Bhutan-North East India Dialogue On High-End Tourism

Date:   Thu Apr 07, 2016 - Fri Apr 08, 2016
Location:   Thimphu, Bhutan , Hosts:   Asian Confluence

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A two-day seminar was organised by Tourism Control Board (TCB), Centre for Bhutan Studies and Gross National Happiness (GNH) Research, and Asian Confluence as an initiative to exploit the huge potential in connecting Bhutan and North East India as a high-end tourist destination given the commonalities and proximity. The seminar was attended by experts and policy makers from both the countries.
Rakesh Mathur, director and principle advisor of New India Hospitality, emphasized on promoting sustainable tourism and diversifying its products accordingly. “The North East has a lot to offer with abundant wealth and there is a lot that the region can also learn from Bhutan,” he said. The discussions in the course of two days touched upon a wide range of areas such as the challenges confronting the industry. While Bhutanese tourism stakeholders highlighted the issue of unregulated regional tourists, policy makers questioned if Bhutan really was promoted as a high-end destination.  
The speakers who engaged in heated discussions and provided their useful recommendations included Karma Lotey, CEO of Yangphel tours and treks, Thinley Palden Dorji, President of Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan, Vice Chairman of Singye Group of Companies, Ugen Tshechup Dorji, Himatoz Zhimomi who is in-charge of public works development in Nagaland and National Council (NC) member Pema Tenzin. The seminar was organised at Thimphu, the capital city of the Kingdom of Bhutan where Asian Confluence led a pan North East India delegation to be a part of the dialogue on tourism and development. 



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