History Of Tourism In Bhutan: PART II of V

The Evolution & Structure of the DoT

One of Bhutan’s senior tourism personalities - Robin Wangdi - remembers that the Department of Tourism, headed by Dasho Tseten Dorji as its Director, functioned as a commercial tour operator since tourism activity began in 1974.

Mr. Robin Wangdi, one of the earliest tourism personalities of the country. He joined the industry in 1979.

Initially the DoT was structured as follows:

~ Dasho Tseten Dorji, first Director of the DoT;

~ Sonam Dhendup Tshering, in his capacity as the Administrative Officer, he was No. 2 in the DoT
   and looked after the entire operation of the DoT during its initial phase of operation.

The Department was later restructured as follows:

~ Hotel Division, headed by Sonam Dhendup Tshering;

~ Tourism Project Division, headed by late Dorji Gyaltshen;

~ Tourism Commercial Organization, headed by Jigme Tshulthrim;

~ Bhutan Travel Agency, headed by Wangcha Sangey;

~  Liaison Office, Calcutta, headed by Benchen Khenpo, mid 70's
~ Bhutan Travel Service, New York, USA was established in 1980. It was headed by a lady named
   Ms. Marie Brown, who was designated Regional Manager.

~ Bhutan Travel Service, Calcutta, India was established in 1982, headed by Karchung as the
   Senior Tourism Officer, with Dhendup Tshering as the Liaison Officer. 

~ Bhutan Travel Service, New Delhi was established in September, 1983, headed by the
   Program Officer, Chimi Dorji. He was succeeded by Dominic Sitling, in 1985. The office was
   attached to the Royal Bhutanese Embassy. This office was necessitated for faster
   processing of the Innerline Permit from MEA, Government of India.

In 1982, Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC) was created as a Division under the DoT - to take over its commercial operations. The DoT remained as the controlling authority responsible for policy issues. Subsequently, in 1985, Dasho Tseten Dorji was moved to Department of Animal Husbandry and Jigme Tshulthrim took over the reigns of the organization. It was at this time that the DoT was renamed Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC) - as a corporation of the Royal Government. Throughout these transitions, the tourism organization functioned as a tour operator with tourism activity as its core function.

Finally in 1991 tourism business was privatized and the BTC ceased to exist as a tour operator. This effectively ended the government’s monopoly over the tourism trade in the country.

The Demise Of The DoT/BTC

With the privatization of the tourism trade in the country, the government’s tourism organization morphed into a regulatory authority – it was renamed Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB) in 1991.

The first head of the Authority was Yeshey Norbu, currently the CEO of Norbu Bhutan Travel Private Limited. He spearheaded the formation of the TAB as a regulatory authority. He resigned in 1994 and moved to head the private sector Bhutan Tourism Corporation Limited (BTCL).

He was succeeded by Thinley Dorji – more popularly known as Motithang Thinley. Other heads of the organizations were: Tshering Yonten, Tshering Phuntsho, Sangay Wangdi, Lhatu Wangchuk, Tshering Yonten (second term), Kesang Wangdi, Chhimmy Pem and now the incumbent Director General Dorji Dradul.

For a short period following the transfer of Kesang Wangdi, Thuji Nadik acted as the Director of TCB. However he could not be promoted to full-fledged Director of the organization, given his classification as a Specialist.

It was during the tenure of Kesang Wangdi that the TAB became an autonomous organization and took on the name Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB). Before that, the tourism organization was put under a number of parent Ministries, as follows:

DoT : 1971 - 1982    Ministry of Finance

BTC : 1982 - 1991    Ministry of Communications

TAB : 1991 - 2000 Ministry of Trade, Industries & Forests

DoT : 2000 - 2008    Ministry of Trade & Industries

TCB : 2008 -             Autonomous under a Council headed by the Prime Minister

The Ministry of Finance built the following properties for the Coronation of the Fourth King of Bhutan. The DoT/BTC was allowed the use of these properties, thereafter:

Motithang Hotel, Thimphu

Bhutan Hotel, Thimphu

Olathang Hotel, Paro

Kharbandi Hotel, Phuentsholing

Chasilakha Rest House/Tea House, Chhukha

Upon privatization of the tourism business, some of these properties were sold to the BTCL.

It is quite remarkable that even while being not very highly educated, Dasho Tseten Dorji as the Director of DoT had the foresight to create a number of tourism related properties as far back as the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. These properties were:

1. Phajoding Cafeteria, Thimphu

2. Dochu-La Cafeteria, Thimphu

3. Wangdue Guest House, Wangduephodrang

4. Sherubling Tourist Lodge, Trongsa

5. Wangduecholing Guest House, Bumthang

6. Mongaar Guest House, Mongaar

7. Trashigang Tourist Lodge, Trashigang

8. Samdrupjongkhar Guest House, Samdrupjongkhar

9. Sharna Trekking Lodge, Paro

10. Thangthangka Trekking Lodge, Paro

11. Jangothang Trekking Lodge, Paro

12. Lingzhi Trekking Lodge, Thimphu

13. Shodu Trekking Lodge, Thimphu

14. Barshong Trekking Lodge, Thimphu
15.  Bunakha Cafeteria, Chhukha

Karchung of Bhutan Lhomen Adventure, the Trekking Manager of  the erstwhile DoT/BTC laments that all these properties have been allowed to go to ruin, particularly the trekking lodges. All these trekking lodges are no longer in existence.