Tourism in Bhutan can be second largest industry

Posted On August 21, 2011

Regarded as the most unexploited and hidden land in world, Bhutan has immense potentiality to attract tourists from around the world. If well planned, given best quality services and promoted well in market, tourism is Bhutan will definitely form second biggest industry in Bhutan after hydropower. The government needs appropriate policies and programmes to tap this opportunity.

Even here in Australia, people have excitement to visit Bhutan as tourists. I encountered some of such people during the tourism promotional event of Nepal in Melbourne in June this year. Many in Adelaide also have curiosity about Bhutan and express willingness to visit. However, none of the Bhutanese tourism companies in Bhutan have their representatives or agents here. I came across only one in Sydney.

The Bhutan Australia Foundation rarely did any work in promoting Bhutanese tourism. The organisation just turned out to be agent to promote monarchy and the GNH. It flatly ignored to help build Bhutanese economy. The only connection that Bhutanese tourist companies have is with Indian and Nepalese companies.

Along with absence of connection with Bhutanese tourism agents overseas, costly service levy hinders people from visiting Bhutan. Additionally, costlier Druk Air is another reason. Durk Air is the costliest airlines in the region. And latest statistics show that regional tourists are likely to stay more in the country.

According to Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) figures, 30,000 tourists visited Bhutan in first six months of this year – a growth of 95.5 percent compared to same time last year (17,890). This figure does not include regional tourists who arrived Bhutan through land. And in 2010, total visitors were 19,482. And superb increase is due to sudden growth of regional tourists. More than 12,000 regional tourists arrived Bhutan in first six months this year. Similar number of regional tourists visited Bhutanese in entire last year.

The figure is likely to change Bhutanese thoughts that only people who spend dollars are tourists. Records taken from Paro Airport reflect that regional tourists stay longer than others. If regional tourism grows, Bhutanese will continuously benefit even during crisis like ash in Europe and unrest in Thailand or Middle East.

The new figures must give impetus for Bhutanese policy makers to revise their tourism policy. Allow more concession for the regional tourists because not all people in the region have capacity to pay 200-250 dollars a day. Invite foreign companies for air service in the country and linking travel agents across the globe will obviously increase the tourist flow into the country. There is also urgent need for building another international airport in southern Bhutan so more flights can connect Bhutan.

Bhutanese spreading around the world will certainly help promote Bhutanese tourism. Bhutanese travel agencies have to look into these alternatives. The government must provide more autonomy for the travel agents.