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Prime Minister meets constituents in Capital.
The prime minister yesterday met with people of his constituency residing within the capital city to discuss the country’s ongoing developments activities and of plans in the offing. Speaking to some 200 people from various parts of Pemagatshel, working and residing in Thimphu. gathered at the front lawn of the prime minister’s two-storied house, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley emboldened them to express their views without fear.
“I felt it’s an obligation on my part to inform constituency development program and government policy on both constituency and national level,” Lyonchhoen said.In his speech, the prime minister said in two years and four months since beginning the process towards democracy, it was his first time meeting with people of his constituency living in Thimphu, to consult and receive their feedbacks.
“People living in the capital have a very good perception of our constituency and are well aware of the larger challenges and responsibilities of the government,” he said.Lyonchhoen’s presentation comprised mostly the progress of minimum development program to alleviate poverty in the country, progress on road network, both within the dzongkhag and national levels.
Other development activities he touched upon were on electrification, water supply, easy access to school, improvement of health services and mobile phone coverage. The presentation also included the restoration and renovation works of temples and monasteries, including those damaged by the earthquakes last year.Rinzin Jamtsho from the prime minister’s grievance cell said the unmet commitments under discussion. “We’ll try our best to fulfill all our future plans and our commitments,” he said.Lyonchoen said people elected him not as their master but as their server.
“I’ll serve them in the best way I can, for both my constituency and my country,” he said. “In this regard, their guidance and interaction are very important.”
Some people in the gathering said such an occasion was rare, where they felt the intimacy between a prime minister and his people.
“We understand he can’t live up to all the commitments he makes, because he has to look after the benefit of the nation,” Dechen Wangmo from Shumar geog said. “We hope our future needs and plans are met before the next election.”The meeting was followed by lunch prepared at Lyonchhoen’s home.
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About 100 monks from Bhutan who graduated from he Namdroling Monastery in Mysore, India, received their graduation certificate from His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama during the sixth convocation ceremony of the Ngagyur Nyingma Institute, on September 3.
His Holiness conferred the certificates to the masters, bachelors and higher secondary graduates in Buddhist philosophy from the institute.
The Bhutanese graduates, some of who are already working in the civil service, corporations and private agencies had come on leave, while some had come from various monasteries, taking a break from their teaching.
The 5th convocation was held in 2003 presided by the founder of the monastery, the late HH Drupwang Pema Norbu rinpoche. 578 higher secondary graduates, 471 bachelor’s degree and 421 master’s degree graduates were awarded the certificate this year.
NNI, since it was established in 1978, has so far seen a total of 1,705 higher secondary graduates, 800 bachelor’s degree graduates and 596 master’s degree students graduate, while a total of 105 Phd certificates were awarded the title of khenpo.
His Holiness also awarded certificate to nun graduates, who studied the same courses. The nunnery, established in 1994, saw 30 nuns graduate with higher secondary education, and 12 with bachelor’s degree. They were from Bhutan, Nepal and India.
NNI, since its establishment, has contributed to spreading the Buddhadharma and educating hundreds of Bhutanese youth, according to Lopen Tshering Penjor, who received his master’s degree on Friday.
6 September, 2010 - On Wednesday evening, chamber officials spent a good amount of time with the Bhutan agriculture and food regulatory authority (BAFRA) officials clearing 200 kg of dried buffalo meat coming into the country from Nepal.
“BAFRA thought only samples come in for trade fairs and we had to explain that it was for a Nepali restaurant,” a chamber official told.
The salted and dried meat packed in transparent plastic packets is one of several items from Nepal that will be up for sale at the international trade fair, which opened in Thimphu yesterday. Other items from Nepal that might interest the Bhutanese are gold painted statues, exquisite thangkas, silver water offering bowls, ornaments and religious items.
“We’re participating for the first time and some of our items are still not here,” said Bikram Maharjan of Chandra Surya handicrafts, as a monk surveyed the row of statues on display and enquired about a six-inch statue of Tshepamee, the goddess of longevity.
There are 28 participants from Nepal, 50 from India, three from Thailand, two from Bangladesh and one from Singapore taking part in the fair that is offering a lot of same things, particularly consumer goods, that fairs in the past have had.
A new stall this time is the bamboo furniture and decorative items and weaves of the Bodoland regional apex weavers & artisans cooperative federation ltd from Assam, India. “I’ve come here before but this time I’ve tried to bring the variety and diversity Assam has to offer in handicrafts,” said Malati Rani Narzary, who is the chairperson of the federation. “I’m confident that all our products will do well here,” she said. The products also include dried shitake mushrooms and bananas.
The Phya Thai hospital stall will have a senior doctor, who will provide free health advisory services, according to chamber officials.
The Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry, which is organising the five-day fair, is charging international participants Nu 35,000 to hire stall space for the duration of the fair. Bhutanese participants are paying between Nu 25,000-Nu 30,000 depending on the stall size. In total, there are 125 participants, including several food stalls selling Indian, Thai, Bhutanese and Nepali food.
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It was the first of its kind to be held in Bhutan- a bicycle race from Bumthang to Thimphu. Twenty three Bhutanese including a lady participated in the “Tour of The Dragon” race. The riders had to cross 4 mountain passes, all over 3,000 metres above sea level. The distance covered was almost 270 kilometres.
His Majesty’s Representative to the Bhutan Olympic Committee (BOC), His Royal Highness the Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck also participated in the race.
The race was flagged off from Bumthang at 2 am. Ugyen Yoesar, 31, a tour guide of the Yangphel Adventure and Travel completed the race in 12 hours 33 minutes and won the race.Ugyen Yoesar will receive a sum of Nu. 20,000 and a one night stay at Uma in Paro. The first and second runners up will receive Nu. 15,000 and Nu. 10,000 each.This year saw participants from the civil service, students, entrepreneurs, tour guides and officials of the BOC.
According to officials the race is aimed at promoting cycling and living a healthy life. It is also aimed at attracting cyclists from all around the world to challenge themselves.The race is sponsored by Bhutan Olympic Committee, Yangphel Adventure and Travel and Bhutan Tourism Corporation Limited.
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Bhutan will be hosting the 8th South Asian Men’s Body Building Championship in June next year. This is the first time for the country to host an international sporting event.
Ten participants each in various categories from the South Asian member countries will be taking part in the championship. Being the host country, Bhutan will have the privilege of having two participants each in various categories. The Championship is classified into 10 weight categories with 55 kilograms as the entry weight.
For now, the Bhutan Body Building and Weight Lifting Federation is yet to select the Bhutanese participants. The selection will be held within this month in order to provide ample time for the selected participants to prepare for the event.
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Hindu devotees celebrate Lord Krishna’s birthday in Paro,Bhutan.
For the first time, Hindus in Paro celebrated the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna yesterday. On the day, devotees celebrated by signing devotional songs and chanted prayers.until today devotees celebrated the day privately in their homes. However, with increasing number of devotees, the day was observed in the open space this year. Lord Krishna was born 5,000 years ago in Mathura in India. Since then the Hindus have been celebrating the birth anniversary.
Around 200 Hindu devotees including Dzongkhag officials were present during the function.
September 2: (Yangphel Archery Update) Uma Paro will take on Druk Star and Pelden Group of Companies in the finals of the Yangphel Open Archery tournament. The finals are scheduled for September 11.In the first match yesterday, Druk Star defeated Laya tour and Lama Bakery in the penalty shoot-out. In the other semi-final, Uma Paro defeated Tangmachu Charo and Hung.Pelden Group of Companies defeated Druk Five and Khadel yesterday.
A record number of 165 teams took part in the tournament.
Civil servants and teachers in Haa have come up with a new initiative to ride bicycle to their offices and schools instead of cars. Such programmes were aimed to reduce air pollution and to encourage healthy living.
Eight civil servants procured bicycles through the Dzongkhag Education Sector. Every morning and evening the group of eight civil servants is seen riding their bicycle to and from their office.According to the Dzongkhag Education Officer, Sonam Tenzin, the idea would help reduce air pollution and safeguard the environment. “This will also help in achieving the goals of Gross National Happiness.”
He added that more civil servants are showing interest to buy bicycles.The cycles are bought from the neighboring border town of Siliguri in India. It cost Nu. 8,000 for a bicycle.This environment friendly cycling initiative was inaugurated on Sunday.
Druk Neytshuel, the first private Dzongkha newspaper hits the market with its first edition of circulation beginning this week.
Druk Neytshuel becomes the sixth private newspaper in the country. The 24 page independent Dzongkha newspaper covers social, political, entertainment, history, environment, business, culture, religion and community issues. The weekly paper cost Nu. 10.The first edition of the paper was distributed in the market free of cost today.Chungdu Tshering, the Chief Editor told BBS that the paper will also feature news items and features for children’s understanding.
Today Druk Neytshuel has 21 employees including reporters. They have plans to open bureau offices in the Dzongkhags.
Bhutan’s rugged geography fostered the rise of a hardy population of farmers and herdsmen, and helped to foster a strong Buddhist culture, closely connected in history with Tibet. The population is sparse -- roughly 700,000 people on territory the size of France – with agricultural communities nestled in deep valleys and a few herdsmen in the high mountains. Each valley is guarded by a dzong (fortress), which includes monasteries and temples, all dating back centuries and exhibiting a masterful combination of sophisticated architecture and fine arts.
Bhutan’s economy of agriculture and monastic life remained self-sufficient, poor, and isolated until recent decades, when a series of remarkable monarchs began to guide the country toward technological modernization (roads, power, modern health care, and education), international trade (notably with neighboring India), and political democracy. What is incredible is the thoughtfulness with which Bhutan is approaching this process of change, and how Buddhist thinking guides that thoughtfulness. Bhutan is asking itself the question that everyone must ask: how can economic modernization be combined with cultural robustness and social well-being?
In Bhutan, the economic challenge is not growth in gross national product, but in gross national happiness (GNH). I went to Bhutan to understand better how GNH is being applied. There is no formula, but, befitting the seriousness of the challenge and Bhutan’s deep tradition of Buddhist reflection, there is an active and important process of national deliberation. Therein lies the inspiration for all of us.
Part of Bhutan’s GNH revolves, of course, around meeting basic needs -- improved health care, reduced maternal and child mortality, greater educational attainment, and better infrastructure, especially electricity, water, and sanitation. This focus on material improvement aimed at meeting basic needs makes sense for a country at Bhutan’s relatively low income level.
Yet GNH goes well beyond broad-based, pro-poor growth. Bhutan is also asking how economic growth can be combined with environmental sustainability -- a question that it has answered in part through a massive effort to protect the country’s vast forest cover and its unique biodiversity. It is asking how it can preserve its traditional equality and foster its unique cultural heritage. And it is asking how individuals can maintain their psychological stability in an era of rapid change, marked by urbanization and an onslaught of global communication in a society that had no televisions until a decade ago.
I came to Bhutan after hearing an inspiring speech by Prime Minister Jigme Thinley at the 2010 Delhi Summit on Sustainable Development. Thinley had made two compelling points. The first concerned the environmental devastation that he could observe – including the retreat of glaciers and the loss of land cover – as he flew from Bhutan to India. The second was about the individual and the meaning of happiness. Thinley put it simply: We are each finite and fragile physical beings. How much “stuff” -- fast foods, TV commercials, large cars, new gadgets, and latest fashions – can we stuff into ourselves without deranging our own psychological well-being?
For the world’s poorest countries, such questions are not the most pressing. Their biggest and most compelling challenge is to meet citizens’ basic needs. But, for more and more countries, Thinley’s reflection on the ultimate sources of well-being is not only timely, but urgent.
Everybody knows how American-style hyper-consumerism can destabilize social relations and lead to aggressiveness, loneliness, greed, and over-work to the point of exhaustion. What is perhaps less recognized is how those trends have accelerated in the United States itself in recent decades. This may be the result of, among other things, the increasing and now relentless onslaught of advertising and public relations. The question of how to guide an economy to produce sustainable happiness -- combining material well-being with human health, environmental conservation, and psychological and cultural resiliency – is one that needs addressing everywhere.
Bhutan has many things going its way. It will be able to increase exports of clean, run-of-the-river hydropower to India, thereby earning foreign exchange in a manner that is sustainable and that can fill government coffers to fund education, health care, and infrastructure. The country is also intent on ensuring that the benefits of growth reach all of the population, regardless of region or income level.
There are serious risks. Global climate change threatens Bhutan’s ecology and economy. Incautious and expensive advice from McKinsey and other private consulting firms could help turn Bhutan into a degraded tourist zone. One must hope that the quest for GNH will help steer the country away from such temptations.
The key for Bhutan is to regard GNH as an enduring quest, rather than as a simple checklist. Bhutan’s Buddhist tradition understands happiness not as attachment to goods and services, but as the result of the serious work of inner reflection and compassion toward others.
Bhutan has embarked on such a serious journey. The rest of the world’s economies should do the same.Source: Kuensel and http://www.bhutanvisitors.com
The endangered golden langur (trachypithecus geei), which is native to Bhutan and some parts of the neighbouring Indian state of Assam, could be under threat of extinction from crossbreeding with the capped langur, according to a Bhutanese researcher.
“The crossbred offsprings are very fertile and can produce further offsprings easily and that could erase the golden langur species,” said Dr Tashi Wangchuk who has studied the conservation of golden and capped langurs in Bhutan. “The golden and capped langurs hybridise naturally in areas between the Dunmang tshachu in Zhemgang and Riotala (near Kartigangchu) in Trongsa.”
Pure capped langurs are found east of Dunmang tshachu, while pure golden langur extend west and north of Riotala.
“The hybrid process could probably be due to human settlement,” said Dr Tashi. “After settling, people started building bridges across the Chamkhar river, where the langurs used those bridges to cross to the other side and grouped together,” he said. “Earlier, the river acted as a barrier.”
The capped langur traits (black colour) are more dominant than golden traits (gold colour) and the phylogenetic (study of the closeness/relatedness of genetic codes) clearly shows that male capped langur are the ones moving into golden langur troops and siring the hybrid offsprings,” states Dr Tashi Wangchuk’s report, which was submitted to the critical ecosystem partnership fund (CEPF) that funded the research. “Because of this, golden langur could disappear as a distinct species,” his report states.
Dr Tashi said the hybridisation process cannot be stopped, unless all four bridges across the river are removed but that, he said, was not practical. “Therefore, necessary monitoring at the hybrid zone, study on the stability of the zone should be done,” he said.
“Keeping guard at the bridges could also reduce the problem,” he added. There are about 4,000 golden langurs in the wild in Bhutan and about 1,000 in Assam.
The golden langur with a very restricted range is confined to western Assam in India and Bhutan only. However, because of deforestation, occasional poaching and loss of habitat in Assam, Bhutan has become the last bastion for their survival as a species, according to the researcher.
Dr Tashi Wangchuk has recommended further research to assess the extinction threat to golden langurs from hybridisation with capped langurs as “genetic introgressions tests can provide more definitive answers, which are easily quantifiable and measurable, rather than visual colour observations”.
But he also cautions that other conservation threats to golden langurs have not diminished.
The Gonphu-Panbang highway being built through the royal Manas national park will open up the area to large scale development. The planned mega hydro projects along the Mangdechu and Chamkharchu degrade the habitat of langurs from “near pristine” to “at risk”, his paper states. “It’s important to keep in mind that there are fewer than 4,000 golden langurs left in the wild, and the present rate of development and habitat loss and alteration could result in the gradual loss of the species over the next 50 years.”
Source Kuensel/http://www.bhutanvisitors.com
Waste management in urban areas has been a continuing problem. To further educate the people on this, students and youth volunteers got together, creating something out of nothing. With assistance from the Thimphu City Corporation and other stake holders, they organised an Art Festival featuring products made from wastes.The ‘Young Zoom Art Exhibition’ at the Clock Tower Square featured various products such as waste bins, mats, hand gloves and other decorative items all made from wastes.Organisers say they used about three truckloads of waste to make the display possible.
Inaugurating the festival, the Minister of Works and Human Settlement said it was a worthwhile initiative and appreciated both adults and children involved in this creative job.Lyonpo also said waste management was one of the major concerns for the government.The founder of Voluntary Artists Studio, Asha Karma, said this was initiated to make people realise the ill-effect of unmanaged waste both on the environment and people’s health.
This huge dining hall familiar only with the rattle of plates and over-the-food chatter of our policemen is witnessing something different these days. Thirty policemen from Thimphu are being trained on mountain bike riding inside the Sarpang Police Camp mess. The heavy downpour in the past few days has not favored them to practice outdoors. But it seems they are enjoying it in the dining room. A source in Sarpang said the policemen are really excited to start patrolling on bicycles. The moment they knew the rains would not stop, instead of resting, the policemen themselves took initiative to arrange the dining hall for practice. “Some of them threw things around in a hurry to make space for the practice,” said the source. As the policemen ride, small wooden block are kept as glitches on the way and they learn gear shifting and break controlling. The training is for a week, where they are also taught basic maintenance and servicing of the bike. The source told “As the policemen will be patrolling on mountain bikes, they have to be specially trained. Many have been riding the ordinary bicycles without any gears.”From the batch that had gone for the training, not a single policeman had tried a mountain bike. Of them, four did not know how to ride a cycle. The policemen are getting trained on 30 city and urban cycles and two mountain bikes.
City and urban bicycles are designed for frequent short, moderately paced rides through relatively flat urban areas. It is a form of utility bicycle commonly seen around the world, built to facilitate everyday riding in normal clothes in a variety of weather conditions.
The 30 cycles are from the 353 that prime minister received from Japan which the government has decided to allocate to Royal Bhutan Police and other agencies.
The cycles, the major lot of which is still being repaired in Phuentsholing, have been under constant media scrutiny. The source said the bikes are in good condition which can be used for training and also the police are getting a better understanding on how an old and a new bicycle functions.
A supportive opposition leader who rides bicycle to office said, “It is excellent way forward.”
“They will do perfectly well and it will be efficient in reaching places in Thimphu much easily,” he added. The traffic police bikers are being trained on how to ride in a convoy, how to maintain their balance and also how to ride over rough roads. Very soon, cycling policemen can be seen in Paro and Thimphu. If the system works out well then policemen from other dzongkhags will also be trained to patrol on bikes.
BoB has procured plans of installing 35 ATMs of which more than 15 has already been installed.
“Installation of ATM will help with the overcrowding in the bank and will increase the convenience for the clients,” said a spokes person from BoB.
“Installation of these technologies will greatly benefit the tourists and all the other local clients in terms of banking which will be made simple, efficient, effortless and cost effective,” said an official from the bank.
He added that a customer can operate on his account from any branch of the bank and also with ATM facilities; adding that a customer can operate on his account from virtually anywhere and make electronic funds transfer between banks within no time.
The bank is also installing two ATMs at the project site in addition to the already existing ATMs at Lobeysa and one at the bank premises.
BoB also plans to install about a dozen ATM machines in the Eastern Dzongkhags by the end of this year making it a seamless transaction for any of its customers with a BOB account.
“People now have a second choice,” said Buddha air’s local representative, Kinley Tshering. “It’s going to be good for the public in general, and for the dynamics of the tourism industry,” he added. Although the benefits of Buddha Air’s competition will be limited to only between the Paro-Kathmandu sector, the airline has also expressed interest in connecting Paro to cities in India.
Although the government has signed bilateral air services with other countries as early as 1986, low commercial viability of operating to Bhutan has deterred foreign airlines from flying into Paro airport. Bhutan has signed bilateral air services with Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. Currently, talks are also underway to establish air links with Hong Kong and Singapore.
“It’s a healthy development,” said communications secretary, Dasho Kinley Dorji on Buddha Air’s inaugural flight. “Bhutan is pursuing economic development with tourism as one of the means, so we need the connectivity,” he said.
1968 – Airstrip constructed in Paro
1981 – National airline Drukair established
1983 – Drukair commences commercial air services with two 18-seater Dornier twin turbo propeller aircraft
1986 – Department of civil aviation established, bilateral air service (BAS) signed with Bangladesh
1980 – Increasing traffic prompts Drukair to upgrade fleet to jet aircraft with 82-seater BAe 146-100
1990 – Civil aviation act passed
1991 – BAS signed with India
1993 – BAS signed with Thailand
2002 – BAS signed with Myanmar
2004 – Drukair upgrades fleet to Airbus A319 jet aircraft, BAS signed with Nepal
2010 – Government pursues establishing domestic air services
2010 – Buddha Air, a private Nepal based airline commences operations to Bhutan
Paro Festival Tours is one of the crowded festivals in Bhutan. The unfolding of the silk Thangka - which is so large that it covers the face of the building -is considered one of the most sacred blessings in the whole of Bhutan. The 'Thangka' is a religious picture scroll known as a Thongdroel and it is exhibited for a few hours, at day break of the final day of the festival, enabling the people to obtain its blessing. This holy scroll 'confers liberation by the mere sight of it' (the meaning of the word 'thongdroel' in Bhutanese). This festival is held once a year so it is also the time to for Bhutanese to celebrate with their relatives and friends.
TRIP LENGTH: 8 DAYS 7NIGHTS.
FESTIVAL DATES: 15th March-19th March 2011.
Day 1: Arrive Paro International Airport and will be Receive by Tashi Gongphel Tours Representatives. Check in at Olathang Hotel. After an early tea visit: Kichu Lhakhang (Temple),Paro dzong,Taa Dzong(Watch tower) overnight at hotel Olathang.
Day 2: Full day at Paro Festival
Day 3: Full day at Paro festival.
Day 4: After breakfast drive to Thimphu and visit the King's Memorial Chorten, Changangkha Monastery,Nunnery temple, National Library, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Trashicho Dzong, Jungshi Handmade Paper Factory, Textile museum and Folk Heritage Museum.
Day 5: After early breakfast, drive to Punakha via Dochula Pass, where you can see 108 Bhutanese Stupas. If the weather is clear you can see all Himalayas Ranges with all snow covered. Further drive to Punakha and visit Punakha Dzong.In the evening short hike to Chimi Lhakhang(Temple).It is a gentle walk through beautiful farm houses and vast plains of rice fields, for about half an hour.
Day 6: After breakfast, drive to Wangdue and visit Wangdue Dzong .Enroute stop for a lunch at Thimphu and drive to Paro.
Day 7: Day Hike or Mule ride to Tigers Nest Monastery. One of the most venerated places precariously perched on the side of a cliff 900m above the Paro valley floor. From the road point the hike up to Taktshang, on a well maintained path, is up hills takes around 2-3 hours at an average walking speed. On a sunny day please do remember to carry sunscreen, water, walking stick and a hat.
Day 8: Departures
Most of our Paro hotels are within 15 minutes drive to the airport. Transfer to Paro Airport. Check in two hours prior to flight departure to ensure the best seats on board Druk Air.
Looking for something to do and experience in summer? Well, look no further.
Mark your calendar and save the date for the Haa Summer Festival on 9th and 10th July, 2011. The
festival is one of the most special events organized in the enchanted valley of Haa which was opened to
tourists only in 2002.
Bhutan Online Visa
We are pleased to inform all tour operators and other stakeholders that the Tashel Online System, which has been under the testing phase for the last two months, has been fully completed and successful. Therefore, we would like to notify all concerned that the Tashel Online System will be implemented from Monday, the 19th of July, 2010 for actual generation of tourist visas (i.e only the online visas applied from Monday onwards will be actual visas).
To this effect, we would like to request all tour operators to kindly fill in accurate details with proper guest photos for your online visa applications.
Please bear in mind that once the requested online visas are issued by the Department of Immigration, the changes can only be incorporated through a cancellation process.
We would like to once again thank all tour operators for your continued support, co-operation and the patience rendered during the testing phase.
The TCB Management.
NOTE:
- Uploaded Photos should be clearly visible and in colour or grayscale
- Please submit your Credit Advice manually to TCB for Visa Endorsement.
- Please send us feedback and suggestions
http://www.tashel.gov.bt/admin/index.php?page=profile
2010 FIFA World Cup Final on 11/07 20:30 at Johannesburg after results of W61 - W62 for more details visit at http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/matches/index.html/bhutanvisitors.com
The latest World Cup 2010 news coverage of every match, scores, fixtures, results, tables, video and blogs from FIFA.com. for more visit at http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/index.html
Volcano ash costs tourism cash
home 82 cancellations recorded due to air traffic disruptions
22 April, 2010 - Eighty-two tourists from Europe have so far cancelled their trip to Bhutan after Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull (pronounced Eye-a-fyat-la-jo-kutl) volcano erupted last Wednesday, disrupting air traffic and forcing thousands of airlines to cancel their flights, according to tourism council of Bhutan (TCB) officials.
The volcano that had been dormant for nearly two centuries erupted on April 14, filling the European airspace with ash, which flight safety experts said could severely damage jet engines.
The canceled trips of the 82 tourists are from April 18 until May 6, with stays in Bhutan ranging from five to 15 days. “The payment of all these 82 tourists have been made,” said TCB’s visa officer Sangay Lhaden. “Right now, the whole amount of USD 180 per tourist is with us and we’ll be refunding their payments.”
The months of March, April and May bring in more than 6,000 tourists into the country every year. Last year, 8,190 tourists flew into Bhutan in these three months.
Of the USD 200 daily tariff, 10 percent is usually paid as commission to the overseas agent. Sangay Lhaden, however, said that some tourists might want to visit later.
Some of the travel agents, whose tourists have cancelled their trip to Bhutan, are Snow White tours with 16 cancellations,Tashi Gongphel Tours with 6 cancellations, Rainbow tours and treks had seven and Luxury division and Bhutan Dorji Holidays with six each.
According to royal monetary authority’s 2008-2009 annual report, Europeans and North Americans largely dominate Bhutan’s tourism market. The two blocs accounted for 71 percent of all visitors to Bhutan in 2008.With almost 75 percent of flight to and from Europe resuming yesterday, Bhutanese tour operators are hoping that there will fewer cancellations in the coming days.Iceland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is famous for its hot springs, geysers and active volcanoes.
Source:Kuensel
The Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes that tourism is worldwide phenomenon and an important means of achieving socio – economic development particularly counties like Bhutan. It also recognizes that tourism, in affording the opportunity to travel, can help promoting understanding among peoples and building closer ties of friendship based on appreciation and respect for different cultures and lifestyles.
There are, however, problems associated with tourism which, if not controlled, can have devastating and irreversible impact on the local environment, culture and identity of the people. Realizing these problems and the fact that the resources on which tourism is based are limited, the Royal government of Bhutan recognizes the need to develop the Bhutanese tourism industry based on the principles of sustainability, which means it must be environmentally and economically viable.
Towards achieving this objective, the Royal Government, since inception of tourism in the year 1974, has adopted a very cautious approach to growth and development of the tourism industry in Bhutan. In order to minimize the problems, the number of tourists has been maintain at a manageable level and this control on number is exercised through a policy of Government regulated tourist tariff “ high value low volume”.
Tourism Tariff to be increased w.e.f January 2011
ALL TOUR OPERATORS
As you would be aware, the long awaited meeting with the Hon’ble Lyonchhen (Prime Minister)was held on 24th February 2010.
As an update and information only, the following are some of the major outcome: -
1. Government is committed to the policy of “High Value, Low Impact”, minimal or no negative impact which does not undermine culture, promotes ecological conservation, equitable distribution of tourism benefits and social harmony.
2. Diversification of tourism with a focus on wellbeing/ spirituality, MICE and adventure tourism based on principles of GNH
3. Regular consultation between the stakeholders. At-least 1 meeting between TCB and sector association in 6 months, if required the sector association to put in writing requesting for additional meeting. Annual meeting between Council Members and stakeholders.
4. TCB to update on all initiatives implemented on TCB website on regular basis.
5. Tariff: -
• Tariff: To be increased to $ 250
• Season: All year round (No lean season months)
• Children below 12 years, no royalty
• Surcharge, status quo
• W.E.F. January 2011
6. Monitoring: Respective association to develop mechanism to monitor their members in collaboration with TCB. Ensure proper location and addresses of all tour operators.
7. Respective association to institute and promote ethical conducts (Code of Conducts/ Responsible tourism guidelines etc…)
8. ABTO to monitor and regulate transparency of packages offered within the tariff.
9. ABTO and HAB to work together on improving cuisine variety and improvement.
10. ABTO and HAB to work out an amicable solution on debt issues.
11. No excuses for those involved in unethical tourism practices such as sex tourism.
12. Tariff differentiation on selling luxury resorts/ hotels between tour operators and luxury hotels selling directly to be resolved by TCB.
Overall Hon’ble Prime Minister appealed to all the stakeholders to promote and preserve our national identity through wearing our national dress to individual private offices.
Kindly be informed that an official announcement/ circular on the above will soon be circulated, until then treat the above information as reference and for your kind information only.
With Kind regards,
ABTO Secretariat
******************************************************
Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO),
POST BOX No. 938,
Thimphu : BHUTAN.
Annual Black Necked Crane Festival Event
This year, the Annual Black Necked Crane Festival event will be held on 11th November instead of 12th November. The decision has been made by the Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC) as per the suggestion from the Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag Administration.
It had to be decided due to lack of government official holiday on 12th November which has made it inconvenient for the government institutions especially the local schools to take part in the festival.
http://www.bhutanvisitors.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=117
HONG KONG BEST ACTOR WINNER TONY LEUNG AND CARINA LAU MARRIED IN BHUTAN.
Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau cut their wedding cake in the Kingdom of Bhutan July 21, 2008.[Agencies]
Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau
One of Hong Kong’s leading entertainment couples, actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau, were married in Bhutan in a Buddhist-inspired ceremony attended by the tiny kingdom’s royalty, local media reported on Monday.
Leung is one of Hong Kong’s biggest film stars on the international art-house circuit and a longtime collaborator of prize-winning Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai.
Leung and Lau married in the reclusive Himalayan kingdom, known for its breathtaking, pristine natural scenery, on Monday at the exclusive Uma Paro resort.
Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau smile during their wedding ceremony in the Kingdom of Bhutan July 21, 2008.[Agencies]
Newspapers and websites carried photographs of Leung and Lau, who have been together for many years, posing before a congregation of monks in red robes, Leung wearing a tuxedo and Lau in a white gown.
Bhutan royalty reportedly attended the ceremony along with 100 guests, including Canto-pop diva and actress Faye Wong.
“Thank you everyone for making such a long trip to attend our wedding. I believe it is destiny that gathers us together here,” Lau was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying.
Leung, 46, is known for his cool, understated acting style in a raft of films by Wong.
Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau pose with young Bhutanians during their wedding ceremony in the Kingdom of Bhutan July 21, 2008.[Agencies]
These include his depiction of a gay lover in “Happy Together” and as a cuckolded husband in “In the Mood for Love,” a role that landed him the Palme d’Or for best actor at the 2000 Cannes Film Festival.Leung and Lau, 43, appeared together in the Wong films “Days of Being Wild” and “Ashes of Time”
Hong Kong actors Tony Leung and Carina Lau pose with young Bhutanians during their wedding ceremony in the Kingdom of Bhutan July 21, 2008.[Agencies]
Lau said she had chosen Bhutan for her nuptials after a spiritually uplifting visit to the snow-capped Himalayan kingdom.
“I felt the peace the moment I arrived in Bhutan … I could understand that people here are happy not because of their material life, but because of their satisfaction on a spiritual level,” Lau was quoted in the paper as saying.
Source: China Daily
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