The Tourism goal

Tourism as a bringer of the next best thing to the country in terms of earning foreign exchange is a known fact for many years. However, nothing visibly substantial seems to have been done over the years of its existence in the nation.

And that would be speaking in terms of taking tourism and the benefits it brings equally to dzongkhags.  While efforts have been on the up and coming from the government’s side to achieve this end goal, concrete and telling instances have never matured.

Perhaps and for this reason the government’s commitment to take 30% of the tourists to the east will start off a much needed domino effect in this.  Lyonchhen Tshering Tobgay  at the Meet the Press yesterday stood by this claim.

The number of the tourist visiting east and south is low, and therefore government has committed to increase the tourist arrival throughout the country – Lyonchhen’s words. The numbers currently is hitting only at a bare 4% but by the end of three years from now, under this commitment the number of tourists visiting the east is expected to increase till 20%.

The accessories aiding or sustaining the growth of this industry like the hotels, products being marketed is important, that is granted, but more important is to ensure proper and effective communication structures like roads.

To this end the government is widening the roads; it makes sense that tourists hitting the roads with prospects of enjoying beauty of a place need not necessarily take in the horrors of road conditions as part of the package. This should really prove true for those heading east to see the eastern tourist attractions.

Of course prevailing realities stand as a challenge like the very conspicuous elephants in the room – the Yonphula and the Bumthang airports, much required mode of airways to facilitate smooth ushering of tourism in a big way.  

However, it seems government is ‘looking very seriously at the domestic airlines.’ It has been made known that rebuilding and renovating the airports is in the cue (hinting at the time that will be taken in making things a reality).

The government target is to increase tourist arrivals throughout the country by promoting domestic tourism focused on spirituality, culture, wellbeing, adventure, entertainment and relaxation – the unexplored areas with untapped potential.

A pull has also been made at the starting of services of the two helicopters, wherein first priority is to look for a private entity to procure helicopters, if not consider Foreign Direct Investment. The identification of the 11 trekking routes is also under process spearheaded by the Tourism Council of Bhutan in consultation with the Dzongkhag authority as one of the factors in promoting this tourism objective.

All things positively shining with the positive energy it emits, hopefully for the nation’s benefit, things will take shape and do so in the desired manner.

Published as Editorial for Business Bhutan on March 7, 2015