TOURISM COUNCIL OF BHUTAN

Engaging the Private Sector to Foster Domestic Tourism

2021

Dorji Dhradhul, Director General, Tourism Council of Bhutan, Kingdom of Bhutan

15th UNWTO Executive Training

Programme on Tourism Policy &

Strategy

5-8 October 2021

Engaging the Private Sector to Foster

Domestic Tourism

Dorji Dhradhul

Director General

Tourism Council of Bhutan

KINGDOM OF BHUTAN

21 September 20212

• Travel for pilgrimage and religion part of age-old Bhutanese ways of life

• However, it was never considered part of the formal travel & tourism.

• Until recently or for most, Tourism is mostly or all about inbound tourism

• First Domestic & Outbound Tourism Survey (DOTS) conducted in 2020

3

Domestic Tourism Domestic Tourism Survey 2020

Domestic

Overnight

Domestic

Day trip

Total individual 210,801 77,747

Total Trips 765,000 285,957

Average trips per

person

4 4

Mean age of

traveler

40yrs 40yrs

Main reasons

VFRs, health & medical

care, holiday / leisure,

pilgrimage

Personal shopping,

pilgrimage / religion,

health and medical care

ALOS 6 NA

Mean Trip Exp. Nu.7,960 Nu.4,015

Total Exp. Nu.5,913m Nu.1,106m

Domestic Tourism Initiatives

Private sector initiatives

• Luxury glamping / tenting

• Packages for domestic tourists by local

hotels

• Trekking, pilgrimage and other packages

for locals by tour operators

• Others

Pursue a policy of High value, Low volume tourism, where tourism will contribute towards

socioeconomic development while ensuring the negative impacts associated with tourism

are avoided or mitigated.

Position tourism in the national development panning and strategies given its contribution

to the economy.

Integrate requirements related to tourism in the sector policies and plans.

Promote domestic tourism by developing products and services catering to the needs of

the resident tourists.

Ensure safety of tourist, appropriate mechanisms shall be developed and implemented.

promote inclusive and integrated tourism.

6

Regulatory Frameworks

• Tourism Rules and Regulations 2017

• Domestic Tourism Guideline

• Druk Neykor Operations Guidelines 2020

• SOP for Trekking & Pilgrimage tours under new normal

7

).

National level

• Hon’ble Foreign Minister as the Chairperson

• District governors, chairperson of relevant private

sector associations and relevant government agencies

• Constitute of 9 members

• Supported by the Tourism Technical Advisory

Committee

District (Local)

Level

Economic Development Officers (EDOs) have been

appointed in all the 20 Districts. They act as focal for

tourism development in the Districts

Governance and Tourism Management

Other stakeholders (NGOs, Private, government

agencies, international organisations) are engaged

through different mechanisms in tourism development

and promotion

Tourism Council

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National Certification

Made in Bhutan / Seal of

Quality

Brand Bhutan

Training Programmes

• Short-term skills based

and long term

• Hospitality and

Tourism,

entrepreneurship,

digital skills, business

development etc

TCB Certification System

• Tourist

Accommodation

• Tourist Guides

21 September 2021© 2011 DHI | BHUTAN9

Issues & Challenges

• Travel during COVID-19 times

• Limited and informal domestic tourism

• Awareness and education on overall domestic tourism

TOURISM COUNCIL OF BHUTAN10 2021

• Huge potential for domestic tourism growth to stimulate economic activity and growth

towards tourism restart.

• Opportunity for enhancements of products and services to contribute to economic

growth, employment and personal wellbeing

• Domestic market potential and willingness to travel

Recommendations and way forward

Connect with US

TOURISM COUNCIL OF BHUTAN11 2021

For Industry: www.tourism.gov.bt

For visitors: www.bhutan.travel

destinationbhutan

tourismbhutan