About the Role
Golden Perch is a community of travelers that focuses on sustainable & cultural tourism.
We’re creating an educational course to help travelers become more conscious and respectful guests, and to help hosts provide better guidance. We are seeking a Researcher to lead the research phase of this course.
You will explore the nuanced behavior, customs, and expectations of both guests and hosts in short-term stays, homestays, and travel accommodations—especially in culturally diverse regions. You will gather insights via field research, online interviews, and other sources to craft a detailed research report that will form the foundation of a public-facing social education project.
This research will be published online & reused in other forms, with due credit to you.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct primary and secondary research into guest behavior, homestay etiquette, guest responsibilities, host responsibilities, and travel customs.
- Engage with travelers, local hosts, and field experts to gather real-world insights.
- Analyze trends, identify common pain points, and uncover cultural sensitivities that travelers should know about before travelling to a new location.
- Create a comprehensive research report covering :
- What conscious guests need to pack, ask, and understand before arrival at any accommodation.
- Different kinds of guests and hosts in the industry, and how guests can check what is okay or not okay with the particular place they are staying in.
- How to behave responsibly in a host’s space, including cleaning, etiquette, and checkout norms.
- Cultural dos and don’ts in diverse regions. Geographical, cultural and gender sensitivities of a region.
- Best practices for hosts to clearly communicate house rules, prepare guidebooks, and set expectations.
- Develop a short project proposal / plan before starting full research.
- Optional) Travel to select locations (reimbursed within budget) to conduct field research, observe practices, or interview hosts and travelers.
Requirements
You should have fun while doing this research. Use of AI is promoted but you should understand that there are nuances of this project that AI can not solve.Experience in the field of research , travel writing , or anthropological / cultural studies is appreciated but not a hard requirement.Strong analytical and reporting skills with attention to detail.Deep passion for travel , culture , and human-centered storytelling .Ability to structure and present findings clearly, with visual and written summaries.Preferred) Background in hospitality, homestay operations, or tourism management.Bonus) Interest or experience in arts, local crafts, or cultural conservation .Deliverables
A research proposal outlining your approach (1-2 pages). This proposal will help us gauge your suitability for the project.A final report including :Previous research done in the field by othersCore research insights.Region, Gender, Country specific guidelines for guests and the hostInterview transcripts, photos, or field visit logs (if applicable).More details about the format of the report will be provided post selection.What We Offer
Collaborative and mission-driven team. Nobody is a founder or the boss here, everyone works with their autonomy to create something interesting.Opportunity to shape public awareness around responsible travel and cultural respect .Flexibility to define your research approach and time.Ability to travel across the country for free.Recognition as a contributor to the course.Compensation for travel, accomodation and food along with a monthly stipend of upto ₹10000.Selection Process
Please fill the form : https : / / forms.gle / Lgsq7kbGt9GVxYtJ8We will reach out to select candidates with next steps.