A large section of the Bhutanese people already know how important the tourism sector is for Bhutan. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, this reality has been reinforced even more starkly. People have now come to realize that a maimed tourism industry can put gaping holes into most Bhutanese people’s pockets.
Tourism is the only industry that employs 100% local talent, use local resources and provide the largest number of employment to Bhutanese of all ages. By comparison, hydro projects consume 70% of the fossil fuel imported into the country; employ barely a few hundred Bhutanese and cause destruction to our natural environment, including introducing social ills that we can do without. Crushing debts and atrocious interest rates not withstanding, rampant corruption and inefficient management of the projects cause cost escalations that finally translate to energy rates that is so high that the Bhutanese people are unable to afford.
It is for this reason that I call tourism industry Bhutan’s only net-gain industry. Here we get to keep every Chetrum we earn. There is no punishing 10% interest to be paid on borrowed capital because 100% funds flow in, many months in advance. Through a unique and conceptual business philosophy called the Minimum Daily Package Rate (MDPR), every actor in the industry remains protected and shielded - from the pitfalls of unethical business practices. The MDPR creates an enabling condition for business to grow at an even pace – while ensuring that minimal destruction is caused to our environment.
The tourism industry has been in a state of suspended animation for the past two years – caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many thousands of jobs have been lost and thousands of businesses have ground to a halt. But there is a bright side to the problem – it has given the industry much needed respite – it has ushered in an opportunity for the Tourism Council and the industry players to devote time and imagination towards developing newer and more imaginative tourism products, re-skill the guides, enhance the capability of the ancillary service providers, and generally upscale the infrastructure. This forced lull has given us an opportunity to work towards planning and working towards a more buoyant reopening of tourism – whenever that is likely to happen.
And yet, this is not what some of us want to do. Despite His Majesty’s impassioned call for rededication to the Tsa Wa Soom, to work for the national interest and the good of the country, some industry players are determined to dismantle that which has worked marvelously for the country and the industry, for close to half a century.
They want to vandalize the unique MDPR – that very business model that has helped them arrive where they are today. The treachery that is contemplated is truly disgusting. These lot of people are so vile that they want to surrender the interest of the country and the people of Bhutan - at the alter of their individual greed.
Some industry players are attempting to cause injury to the very hand that rocked the cradle in which they incubated. They forget that they are where they are because of the MDPR – on their own some of them do not have the wherewithal to be where they are now – not by a long shot. Most of these people who drive Toyota Prados and own luxury homes – they owe their good fortune to the ingenuity called MDPR. Without the inventiveness of the MDPR, some of these people who now live in the lap of luxury would most likely be pushing cart trolleys by the roadside.
Certainly some tweaking of the system is called for – because conditions have changed and new situations have arisen. But to call for the total dismantling of the MDPR concept is a call that reeks of greed and personal interest, over national interest.
During a recent meeting with some industry players, some argued that we must leave things to the market forces. I agreed that that was a fair suggestion. However, I countered that what market forces they are talking of are clandestinely engineered by people in the domain of the extraterritorial. When the carpetbaggers walk in – the Bhutanese tour operators will be forced to walk out. We will be no match to the global tourism behemoths.
It is rumored that already some big players from outside have made inroads into the industry – through fronting operations. This is a sad situation. But it is my hope that majority of the Bhutanese people will want to decide our own destiny – whether to be owners of the very lucrative tourism business or commission agents to the manipulators from outside.
Remember - BHUTAN FIRST!
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