When the tourism industry was on its way to being toppled off its pedestal like a hated tyrant towards the end of the third quarter of last year, few had any idea of how impactful it would turn out to be for the country. Not since the creation of the Department of Tourism in 1972 by His Majesty the Third King, has there been an upheaval in the industry - at a scale and devastation as we have seen in recent times.
Bhutan’s Airline Industry
Have they been spared? That would be a silly question to ask! I am told that the Druk Air - our National Flag Carrier is, for now, making do on one-way-outbound-tickets: a business generated by the Bhutanese exodus to Australia and elsewhere, not inbound tourists. Word has it that TashiAir - our second airline has not even released their Winter Flight Schedules.
I fear that over time the National Flag Carrier may not be in a position to generate money enough to pay for their annual aviation insurance on their idling aircrafts.
Years back, during early 2019, I began my 6-articles series titled “On The Wings Of The Dragon”. I encouraged the wresting of the Druk Air from the clutches of the Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) - on grounds that they were being abused - to the detriment of the nation and the people of Bhutan. Please read all of the past 6 article on the subject at the following:
I opined that as a National Flag Carrier, Druk Air had to serve a responsibility far, far greater than profit. That, in any event, given their overall carrying capacity and the number of routes they served, there was NO WAY they could make profit - unless they do so at the cost of the nation and the people of Bhutan.
And, this is what the Druk Air has been doing over the years - charging among the world’s highest airfares and undermining the growth of Bhutan’s tourism industry. For the interest of one lone company, the interest of the nation had been bound to the stakes and burnt to dust. Ask any tour operator and he/she will tell you horror stories of how some deals got terminated the moment clients heard the cost of Druk Air’s air ticket.
I hope finally sense will prevail and we can look forward to at least one right thing - the rationalization of the airfares of the Druk Air so that it makes sense to the international travelers, and we do not have to duck every time the issue of Druk Air’s air ticket comes up during the course of the negotiations.
Punakha Domchoe, no visitors. Paro Tshechu, no tourists! The industry is officially destroyed, sending everyone packing to Australia. RCSC has destroyed the civil service - everyone is suspicious and scared. Who are these Citibank employees from Singapore that are ruining our beloved country. We need change, for sure - but this is sheer destruction. Listen to our own people and institutions - we need inclusion and honest debates and discussion on the big ideas that the country should embrace. When things happen within small circles with no transparency, there is something wrong. The people who are running the show have no confidence in themselves or their 'ideas.' Otherwise what are they scared of that they cannot invite honest debates? When these ideas don't pan out, heads should roll - people should be held to account. Our country is too precious to mess up.
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