Village Homestays Global Network Agent Opportunities

All materials and instructions in this handbook are copyrighted to vhgn.com

Village Homestays are based on sustainable tourism, using the Internet as a primary marketing medium and based on a win-win situation for all participants. Our agents represent us in a pre-defined region.

Background

Village homestays was a concept conceived around the kava bowl in the small Fijian village of Namuamua in March 2003. The concept was founded on the needs of a village elder, Tomasi Vokula to get cash into his village and Scott Balson's expertise in Internet marketing and web development. FijiBure.com was born.

Since this time FijiBure.com has become the vehicle for hundreds of village homestays in a large number of participating Fijian villages. The cash now being brought into these village communities has met all the key criteria of sustainable tourism, namely:

  • Preserving village culture;

  • Bringing cash into their community;

  • Empowering all the people in the village through micro-financing at a village level;

  • Improving basic facilities in the participating villages;

  • Improving the health and welfare of participating villagers;

  • Getting outside funding for improving key areas of village life such as the school;

  • Bringing a better understanding of the unique Fijian culture to tourists visiting that country; and

  • Lessening the burden on government.

Establishment of village homestays in a village

This program is all about cultural integrity. Villages that do not represent an indigenous cultural identity are not to be included.

Village homestays are driven by the villagers and not by the agent in a particular region. The key elements required before a village homestay are considered include:

  • The unconditional support of the village elders

  • Identification of a suitable host and activities manager to be the "face" of that village.

  • Identification of villages that offer unique activities, historical sites, history, fables, food, location that will create interest among potential visitors;

  • The identified village host must speak a good level of English.

  • Minimum standards - house must have a mattress or bed; offer privacy for couples; have clean water and water for washing and toilets - preferably flush.

  • Transport - is it economically viable and not to lengthy to get to the village

The role of the Village Host

The key person in any village homestay will be the host.

If the host builds a good reputation among the guests who visit his village the entire community will benefit. If he or she does not then the number of guests and donors to that village will not reach its maximum potential.

The village host will

  • be the direct village link with the agent;

  • be accountable to the village elders first;

  • normally be one of the village elders or a member of his family;

  • speak a good level of English;

  • meet and greet guests at a pre-determined location;

  • be outgoing in nature;

  • have a support network around him or her;

  • have the village's best interests in mind;

  • have a basic understanding of tourism;

  • ensure that accommodation provided meets minimum requirements;

  • never try to extort money from a guest;

  • manage a support team to look after promoted activities and tours;

  • manage the provision of meals to guests;

  • co-ordinate special trips to the village school or other aspects of community life for guests;

  • organize accommodation in other houses if guest requirements exceed those of his home;

  • organise meals for guests;

  • organize local transport for guests to and from the village;

  • provide feedback to the agent if there is a complaint/s;

  • collect voluntary donations for village funds and give them to the village elders;

Our agents undertake to:

  • identify suitable villages/homesteads and hosts;

  • ensure that the enviroment strongly reflects the culture of the indigenous people living in that state;

  • take photographs and supply information on the participating villages and email that information to Global Village Homestays;

  • update Global Village Homestays on any changes - such a choice of village or host;

  • provide transport solutions to allow guests to access remote villages;

  • develop their region as our partners which means that the participating villages will remain part of our global network regardless of our ongoing association with our representative agent in that region;

  • deal exclusively with Global Village Homestays with regards to on-line marketing of their participating villages;

  • receive all monthly bookings and ensure that guests are met by hosts at an agreed time and place; and

  • keep Global Village Homestays directly informed on any issues or problems.

Benefits to our agents:

  • work from home;
  • become a catalyst to improving the plight of impoverished villages;
  • get a good regular income based on the success of your selected villages;
  • there is no financial commitment by you to establish and develop our village homestay operation in your region; and
  • once your operation is established your time commitments are minimal.

Our commitment to you:

  • we have spent many years establishing our reputation and are now the leading (and probably only successful) village homestay business on the Internet;
  • we dominate the search engines - type "village homestays" in any of the major search engines and see for yourself;
  • we will establish your village homestay business on the Internet - linking it directly to our portal amd ensuring you maximum exposure;
  • we own all the relevant domain names - allowing us to develop your market; and
  • we have a track record and growing email list of several thousand potential guests.

The main portal for village homestays can be seen at this link.

The villagers are not accountable in any way to the agent. It is the duty of the host to ensure that the villagers fully support and understand the operation. Agents will need to keep us fully informed of any issues at all times and respond quickly to ensure all guests are met and accommodated without any problems.

It is imperative that a host understands fully all these duties before agreeing to take on this key role. (A bad host is going to damage the entire villagehomestays.com project so if in doubt do not proceed with that host - if there is not another acceptable host in the village then do not proceed with that village's application).

The role of Government

It is imperative that village homestays do not, in any way, breach government legislation. Before entering into discussions with villages the agent must ensure that he/she has met all government legislatory requirements. (In some countries villages have autonomy so this is not necessarily required - but is advantageous when it comes to getting funding for improving basic facilities in participating villages.

The State's government must be fully informed of the agent's operation and approve of it, if required, before the villages can be approached to participate.

The example of the beneficial role and impacts of FijiBure.com may be used when entering into discussions as an agent of VillageHomestays.com.

Once informed it is unlikely that Government will put any barriers in the way for the development of village homestays. The benefits to the government through sustainable tourism which leads to a lessening burden on financial support in participating villages is a very big attraction.

This saving and the multiple benefits to the village community should result in tax incentives being offered by the government to the agent.

If you would like to register an interest in representing us in a geographic region please contact us.

Get in now before someone else claims your region - we are taking enquiries now!



Email: Village Homestays Global Network