The long and short of it

The economic benefits from the tourism industry many say, are only next to the number one contributor - the Hydropower projects that hold the most important place in the heart of policies. Some even go as far to say, the tourism sector is one area which is near-effortless in being what it is for the nation.

This is the fairly supported truth, the whole truth and the absolute truth surrounding the two major national activities.

Well, maybe not exactly in its entirety, if discussions at the National Council are taken as any serious gauge of standards.

While hydropower was presented not entirely in the easily-accorded atmosphere of glitz and glamor that it is accustomed to, the tourism industry was punched full of loopholes that required urgent attention, should it be sustaining as a potential national economic activity.

The lack of a serious and comprehensive policy presented as the Achilles heel is responsible for curtailing details of growth in the sector and therefore it remained a factor that called for attention.

An up-to-date study of policies past and present is soundly recommended by the house of review and is exactly what seems to be the need of the hour under prevailing circumstances.

Complexity in procedures as mentioned by the NC could also do with some generous simplification to complement and encourage more numbers.

At present the details of daily minimum tariff, FIT charges, surcharges and discount coupled with fiscal policy issues on foreign currency and maintenance of dollar account, taxation policy and revenue recording are highlight areas that could cause more of loss than gain in the potential industry, if changes are not suitably made.

The top-foreign exchange grossing industry has also forever rested on the policy shelves to be taken on a cross-benefits tour nationwide.

While government efforts are of course visible in the home-stay or farm stay visits it promotes rurally toward the east, more initiatives does need to come up even for the south side of the nation should they become areas of interests.

And for all that, the actions don’t come into focus unless the dice of policy rolls.

Coming to the hydropower mission, vision and activity, if the chips are down on an activity (where all the chips have been placed), then there is nothing but room for pondering on that.

An NC member was right to point out that when the 10,000MW project has been confirmed to miss its 2020 deadline, it definitely doesn’t sound good as most government plans and projects lay hinged on the success of the giant project.

Apparently there is need to explore alternatives keeping fresh in mind the impact it will have on the nation’s economy.

Significant details of faulty detailed project reports (DPR) presented during the NC session also brings into picture the need to either train in-country officials better in preparing the reports on which an optimum percentage is spent in terms of cost, or hire international experts from such agencies as the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank.

Published as Editorial for Business Bhutan on May 30, 2015