Bhutan’s tourism – and anything related to it is, to me, as it should be to all Bhutanese, a matter of great concern. Tourism provides the largest number of employment – its benefit is accrued to every segment of Bhutanese society – and every age group. It is a net gain industry where the remuneration flows in months and even years before service delivery - all interest free. It is a top grosser in terms of foreign exchange generation.
It is therefore reasonable that all of us worry when there are signs of decline and rot that is seeping in into the industry; in the manner how it is misguided and mismanaged.
I worry because the government has no record of doing the right thing.
Consider, for instance, the case of the wreckage of one of the “World’s Best Trekking Destinations”, and the ongoing destruction being caused to a birding destination famously known as the “Birding Capital of the World”.
Jumolhari Base Camp Trek is considered to be among the very best treks in the world. It is so beautifully stunning that in 2015 I hosted a group of high-end professional photographers from the USA. They were supposed to do the Lingzhi trek and exit through Dodena in Thimphu. But upon reaching Jumolhari Base camp – they refused to move any further. They said that they do not believe that there can be another place more beautiful than the Base Camp. They spent six nights at Jangothang and returned without doing the rest of the planned trek. And look at what the government did to the trail:
The famous Jumolhari Base Camp Trek trail completely buried under felled trees and branches. Austrian government's aid money was used to destroy the environment although it was provided precisely to save it.
Trekkers should not be made to pay thousands of dollars to trek under such dangerously unsafe surroundings.
The RGoB used Austrian government aid money to destroy the trail and cause irreparable damage to the environment. A reader of my blog - Michal Thoma - sent me a link to the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) website where it is clearly stated that the RGoB would use the aid money for:
“……. construction of two mini hydropower plants, one in Soe (50KW) and one in Lingzhi (100KW) .…."
The Austrian government gave the money for the express purpose of building two mini hydropower plants – one each in Soe and Lingzhi villages, so that we can avoid stringing of ugly power lines and destroying the already scanty forest in the area. We did exactly what we were expected to avoid - people around the world were heart broken by the mindless act – so much so that some one from Australia even volunteered to do fund raising to relocate the power lines.
The bird-rich areas of Sengore, Yongkala and Lemithang in Mongar in the East of the country are known among the global birding community as the “Birding Capital of the World”. Some visiting birders have recorded close to two hundred bird specie sightings in a single day – a stunning record by any standard.
Sadly, yet again, on the pretext of widening the road, the continuous stretch of bird habitat in these areas are being vandalized mindlessly. We have already written three times to the government to be mindful of the destruction being caused to the bird habitat. But the government remains inattentive to the industry’s request. Clearly this birding destination will, over time, cease to exist.
There is talk that the government is going to electrify some villages in the Sombekha areas of Haa. Once again we fear that the government will mindlessly destroy the beautiful Tego-La areas that is gaining popularity among the tourists - as a spot for nature tourism. Is it likely that yet again the Jumolhari trail disaster will be repeated in Tego-La areas?
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