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On his first visit to India post his relection in January 2024, the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Dasho Tshering Tobgay, emphasised the need to strengthen air connectivity between India and Bhutan to promote tourism during an exclusive interaction organised by FICCI in New Delhi. Highlighting the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, he invited more Indian tourists to explore Bhutan’s unique cultural heritage and natural landscapes.
“Our aim is to target 1,50,000 Indian tourists in the coming year,” stated PM Dasho Tshering Tobgay, underscoring Bhutan’s commitment to enhancing happiness and well-being among tourists through a holistic tourism policy. Globally, Bhutan is targeting to receive 3 lakh tourists. In 2023, 72659 Indian tourists travelled to Bhutan. The country yet the reach the pre-pandemic visitor arrival numbers, when it had received 2.30 lakh tourists.
The Bhutanese PM also invited more Indian carriers to fly to Bhutan and utilise the current air travel agreement between both the countries.
Bhutan’s tourism policy revolves around the concept of Gross National Happiness, focusing on sustainable development, social progress, cultural preservation, and good governance. Prime Minister Dasho Tshering Tobgay highlighted Bhutan’s efforts in education, ensuring that tourists receive excellent care and experiences during their visit.
During the interaction, the Prime Minister acknowledged the importance of good governance in ensuring the safety and security of tourists. He outlined plans to improve air access to Bhutan and sought collaboration from the industry to achieve this goal. Additionally, he announced that Bhutan government will work towards providing subsidies to airlines to reduce airfares and easing of permit processes for Indian tourists visiting Bhutan.
Over the past few years, there has been a notable increase of over 25 per cent in the number of female guides in Bhutan, particularly since the country reopened its doors to tourism in September 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, there are approximately 1,809 certified and validated guides in Bhutan.
On the ocassion, Jyotsna Suri, Past President, FICCI, emphasised Bhutan’s potential for tourism growth, citing its stunning landscapes and commitment to sustainable development. She called for increased collaboration between India and Bhutan in infrastructure development and trust-building initiatives.Dipak Deva, Chairman, FICCI Tourism & Culture Committee, stressed the need for enhanced air connectivity between India and Bhutan to facilitate tourism. He also highlighted the demand for a common regional package for tourism covering India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka, a proposal that the Bhutanese Prime Minister supported.
The summit concluded with a shared commitment to fostering greater understanding and collaboration between India and Bhutan, with a focus on promoting tourism and enhancing people-to-people ties.
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