Generally I am out of the house by about 6.30AM – headed into the woods to do bird photography. But this morning I cancelled the program and instead decided to do some reading.
The online media "FeedSpot" had sent me the following link, which I find puzzling.
It is obviously intended to be a joke - look at them giggle and guffaw
According to the above link, Bhutan is reported to be reopening for tourism, with the launch of the Trans Bhutan Trail – on 20th March, 2022 – three days from now.
Is this a hoax? Because no such announcement has so far been made by the TCB or the Royal Government of Bhutan. Bhutan’s Tour Operators, including ABTO and other industry players are clueless about the re-opening.
If the report in the international circle is true – it is bloody good news and it is about time. However, opening up tourism so abruptly – particularly while the country is still under lockdown is a terrible move. The industry players need time to prepare to welcome the tourists. Linens must be washed and ironed, guides should be reinstated; announcement of the re-opening should be conveyed to foreign agents well in advance, etc. etc.
I hope the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) will bring some clarity to this foreign report. I am hoping that this is a prank being pulled on Bhutan’s tourism industry by someone – for want of anything better to do.
Strangely the article says "Trans Bhutan Trail can arrange all aspects of guided walking and biking on the trail....". It appears that the reporter is unaware that conducting trekking/walking/biking or any other tourism related activities can only be performed by licensed local tour operators.
But I can tell you this joke is in poor taste, if it is a joke. Bhutan’s tourism industry is, as I have said many times before, a “net gain industry”. It is the biggest employer and second largest industry in terms of earning. Thus, there is no room for jokes where this industry is concerned. I have personally battled hard to protect this industry – it is in everyone’s interest not to fool around with Bhutan’s tourism industry.
If anyone has any information on this prank, please share.
I feel this is a mere joke as this can't happen when the country is battling with pandemic and hit hard of the community spread of the virus.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a mere joke at this critical situation.
ReplyDeleteThank you for highlighting this article on the Trans Bhutan Trail. While we have no control over how news platforms report on our updates, we can share the following clarifications:
ReplyDelete- The article does not mention the specific reopening date for Bhutanese tourism, just the reopening of the restored Trans Bhutan Trail. It also does not give a specific date for either Tourism reopening or even Trail reopening. 20th March is mentioned only as a reference since it is a coincidental date for the International Day of Happiness. The writing style does leave it open to misinterpretation unfortunately.
- A major objective of Trans Bhutan Trail is to contribute to national tourism revenue and promoting Bhutan as a post-covid destination. To that end, we have identified various licensed local tour operator partners through an open Request for Proposal, advertised through TCB and ABTO, as well as social media and Kuensel. 100% of any profit we make goes directly back to trail maintenance, local communities, and environmental conservation.
- The article mentions limited number of permits to hike the Trail. There is neither a permit system, nor a limit to the number. In fact, it is completely open to all users without any fee. We encourage all Bhutanese tour operators to incorporate the trail activities in their itineraries, and our office provides any support necessary to help with marketing and information. We also hope that Bhutanese in general will walk on this trail as it holds an important historical and culture heritage.
Please visit our website for more accurate and direct updates: www.transbhutantrail.com