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CONTENTS
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Introduction
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Getting to Bhutan
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Visa/Passport
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Bhutan
standard time, Declaration at customs, Electricity Credit
cards,
Currency,
Hotels and accommodations,
Climate
What to
bring, Festivals, Transportation,
Airport tax,
Communications, Cuisine,
Language, Shopping
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Distance/travel time
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Latest news on tourism at the
bottom of this page
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Disclaimer and Tourism related address
1. INTRODUCTION
Visitors must book their travel
through one of the 80 registered tour operators in Bhutan. They
can either approach the operator directly or contact their
counterparts abroad. The minimum daily tariff is set by the
Department of Tourism, Bhutan and can not be negotiated. (these
rates can be higher, depending on the nature of services desired
beyond the set entitlement) The rate is the same for both cultural
tours and treks. Department of
Tourism .
Entry to Bhutan is usually for organised groups.
All tourists must travel on a pre-planned, prepaid, guided
package tour. Independent travel is not permitted.
Individual
travelers can make reservations to visit Bhutan directly with Bhutan
Tourism Corporation Limited (address given at the last paragraph of
this page). Bhutan Tourism Corporation,
Ltd has provided trekking routes
and ratings in its website.
2. GETTING TO BHUTAN
BY AIR:
Bhutan's only airport is located at Paro. Bhutan's national airline Druk Air flies from Paro Airport
in Bhutan to New Delhi, Calcutta, Kathmandu, Bangkok, Dhaka and
Rangoon ( Myanmar). Please check the flight schedule at
Druk Air's official website.
BY ROAD:
The visitors can fly to the nearest
Indian airport, Bagdogra in North Bengal. From Bagdogra, they can
travel by road. It takes 3-4 hours drive to reach Phuentsholing
located on Indo-Bhutan border, the gateway to Bhutan. The
visitors from Nepal can also travel by road through Kakrivitta,
the eastern border town of Nepal. It takes about 5 hours drive
from Panitanki, the Indian Customs check post. It takes about 7-8
hours drive from from Sikkim and Darjeeling to reach Phuentsholing.
It takes 6-7 hours drive from Phuentsholing to Thimphu or
Paro airport. However, one side
journey ( entry/exit) needs to be taken by air. If travelling
overland via Indian territories, a
transit pass from the government of India is required to travel
through prohibited areas of India on Bhutan's border. You are
required to apply to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in
Delhi some months before departure to Bhutan. The travel
time/distance chart is given at the end of this page
VISA AND PASSPORT:
The visitors are required to
possess valid passport and visa for entry to Bhutan, except for
Indian nationals.
Visitors to Bhutan must have a visa approved prior
to arriving in the kingdom. Those who have not had a visa approved
will not be permitted to board their Druk Air flight to Bhutan.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Thimphu issues visa to all foreign travelers.
Bhutanese
embassies or consulate abroad do not issue tourist visa. The Druk Air ticket cannot be
purchased without first
obtaining visa. Visa application at
least three months in advance is advisable.
A two-week visa
costs US$20 and is stamped on the passport at Paro Airport ( or
entry port) during the immigration process. Visas are approved
and issued prior to entry, with the pre-payment of travel
itinerary.
The
visitors are required to produce two passport size photographs. The
visa can be extended upto six months in Thimphu. The visitors to
Bhutan are advised to finalize their travel plans well in advance.
Visa applications must reach the Thimphu, Bhutan office of
Bhutan Tourism
Corporation Limited (BTCL) at least 60 days prior to the
intended arrival date, earlier if traveling to the Kingdom in the
peak months of September, October, November, March, April or early
May. The BTCL will advise all visitors of their status before their
intended departure date. The actual visas are stamped in
the passports at the entry points, either Paro Airport or Phuentsholing
(land entry or exit).
The cost/price of package/group
holiday is fixed by the Royal Government of Bhutan. The package
tour covers all costs including accommodation, all meals,
transport, services of government registered guides etc. For more
information please visit the official website of the
Bhutan Tourism
Corporation Limited .You may also contact several
tour operators.
BHUTAN
STANDARD TIME: Bhutan standard time is 6 hours ahead of GMT.
DECLARATION AT
CUSTOMS:
All visitors are required to complete the
customs form upon arrival at Paro. Upon arrival you will be
issued a "customs form" this form must be filled out, with
declarations, and returned to authorities before leaving the
kingdom. The following items are exempted from
customs duty:
-personal effects
for day to day use
-2 liters of
alcohol, 400 cigarettes; 150 gms of pipe tobacco
-instruments,
apparatus or appliances for professional use
-photographic
equipment, video cameras and other electronic goods.
Cameras, video
cameras, computers and personal electronic equipment must be
declared on arrival and will be checked upon departure.
Export of antiques, religious
antiquities or antiques,
plants or animal products
are strictly prohibited.
ELECTRICITY:
220 Volts, 50 cycles A.C. current is available
in Bhutan.
CREDIT CARDS:
Credit Cards have very
limited use in Bhutan.
American and Visa Credit Cards are accepted in
a very few shops. Traveller Cheques are accepted in
almost all
shops and establishments.
CURRENCY :
Bhutan’s currency
is called Ngultrum or ( Nu) . 100
Chetrum makes a Nu.
Ngultrum or ( Nu) is at par with Indian Rupee.
Indian Rupee is legal tender in Bhutan. Current exchange rate is
approximately US$ 1 = Nu. 48. There are several banking
facilities which accept Pound Sterling and US Dollars.
(hours 10:00 am
to 1:00 pm, Mon to Fri). In the capital town of Thimphu some of
the smaller bank branches are open Saturday and Sunday for
currency exchange.
HOTELS AND
ACCOMMODATIONS:
There are comfortable hotels and lodges
available for the travellers on group tour. The Department of
Tourism has classified the hotels into various categories. Please
visit the page on Hotels of this
site.
CLIMATE: Bhutan's
climate ranges from tropical in the south, to temperate in the center of
the country, to cold in the north...and like much of your
adventure in the Himalayas it will be quite unpredictable. In the
Thimphu and Paro valleys, the winter daytime temperature averages 60 degrees
Fahrenheit during clear winter days but drops well below freezing during
the night. Mid December to early January can be a beautifully clear and
dry time in Western Bhutan. Late December through mid February is the
period of heaviest snow fall in the higher elevations.
WHAT TO BRING:
Bhutan's changeable climate means you have to bring an assortment of clothes, including
rain gear. A layered wardrobe probably makes the most sense. Good walking
shoes or hiking boots are essential even if you are not hiking. Because of
the altitude, a hat or cap and a good pair of sunglasses are essential.
Warm clothes are recommended for the evening. Because of the long
distances between towns an villages bring the medicines you'll need along
with some first-aid supplies. A good flashlight (torch), water bottle and
polarizing filter for your camera will also come in very handy. We have
also found the addition of a day pack or shoulder bag and a telescoping
walking stick to be very handy.
FESTIVALS:
Religious festivals (Tsechu) are important events and celebrated
throughout the kingdom. The Teschu is really a festive time for
Bhutanese. The tsechus are the most colourful of all Bhutanese
gatherings and celebrated at every Dzong (fortress).
Please click on Festival page of this
site for more information.
TRANSPORTATION: There are no domestic airlines or
trains. However the main roads are well maintained. The main
highway highway runs from west to east connecting all the major
towns. Mode of transportation within Bhutan is by motor vehicles
only.
AIRPORT TAX:
International departures Nu 300.
COMMUNICATIONS : International telephone and fax
services are available in various towns in Bhutan. Internet and
e-mail facilities are also available in most of the towns.
CUISINE
: Tourist hotels have a choice of Bhutanese, Indian,
Chinese, Japanese and Continental food.
LANGUAGE:
Dzonkha is the national language.
English is the medium of instruction and
official
correspondence. English is understood and spoken in all towns. All
tour operators, hotel staff, tourist guides speak fluent English.
Nepali is spoken in southern Bhutan. Besides, some guides
are trained to speak
Japanese, French and little Spanish.
SHOPPING:
Traditional handicrafts, textiles, jewelleries,
baskets, masks. Paintings and woodcarving
are preferred by
most tourists.
5. DISTANCE/TRAVELING TIME
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6. LATEST NEWS ON TOURISM
Highest tourist arrival in 2004
Bhutan
saw the highest number of the tourist arrival in 204. . Over 9000
tourists visited the country, the record number so far. In the
past year, there were just over 6000 tourist arrivals. The Department
of Tourism says the increase is due to the rise in the overall world
travel market. The Department says the gross earning this year was
over US$ 12 million. Of that, about US$ 5 million was paid as royalty
to the government. Meanwhile the Tourism Department is emphasizing on
developing products that are unique to Bhutan. The living culture of
Bhutan and eco-tourism are said to be the two main attractions at the
moment. Another area being explored is the bird watching trips.
( Source: BBS, December 22, 2004)
Where will be the 2004 travel hot
spots?
The New Zealand Herald 27.01.2004
By ANDREW TUCK
If you are the sort of person who cares
about who designed the livery on your aircraft; are made happy by the
promise of a night wrapped in Frette sheets; and feel like kissing the
hotel manager when you find Kiehl's products by the bath, then you are
a true style traveller. And just as you had to wangle that table at
the latest restaurant, so you want to be among the first to discover
the latest must-be-seen-at spa; the off-beat city due a renaissance;
or even a whole country undergoing an architectural make-over.
To ensure you suffer no wanderlust
woes, we tracked down the ultimate team of cool travel experts and
asked them to divulge which destinations will be hip and happening in
2004. Glen Donovan, the managing director of Earth Travel, an
exclusive travel agency used by rock stars and models, says the buzz
is all about the remote Himalayan Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. Anxious
to avoid mass tourism, the King is allowing the countess of chic,
Christina Ong (owner of the Halkin and Metropolitan hotels in London
and Parrot Cay in Turks and Caicos), to open Uma Paro, the first spa
resort in the country. Due to launch early this summer, it will offer
just 20 rooms and 10 villas. Several other grand hotel groups hope to
open in the kingdom soon. Donovan, a big fan of Morocco, also
believes that Marrakesh will become even more fashionable with the
opening by Sir Richard Branson of a five-star hotel in the restored
Kasbah Tamadot, an old castle, a 40-minute drive from the city in the
Atlas mountains. "It's a fantasy building, a bit like the Taj Mahal of
Morocco," Donovan says. Looking after a similarly smart and
style-aware set is Ben Elliot, the young entrepreneur behind the
successful concierge service Quintessentially. On the blower from icy
Manhattan, he reveals where his global go-getters will be sunning
themselves. For upmarket party people, Ibiza will remain hip ("Stay at
La Ventana, Hotel Hacienda, Pacha Hotel or, better, rent a villa
through us," he suggests cheekily). But Mykonos will also hit the
style headlines. "It's the new Ibiza and Cavo Paradiso is the
nightclub where all the new DJs are going to be playing. Stay at the
Belvedere or Mykonos Blue. There's even an outpost of Nobu." Further
afield, Bhutan, Antigua and North Island in the Seychelles are
Elliot's tips. And there is only one place for that Out of Africa
experience, he says: "Singita Lebombo in South Africa is the uber
safari lodge.") Sue Ward Davis, the legendary travel editor of Elle
magazine, is a woman whose Manolos have stridden through the lobbies
of all the world's great hotels. But, like Messrs Donovan and Elliot,
she is considering investing in some sturdy walking boots for 2004.
Because her top tip is also Ong's Bhutanese adventure. She also backs
Morocco and believes that Casablanca will find itself on the style
trail. In Europe, her suggestions include Greece, where in the run-up
to the Olympics hoteliers are raising their game. "There are some
really great upmarket boutique hotels on their way: the Semiramis in
Athens will be the first real design hotel in the capital; and the
Asterias Suites at the Sani Beach Resort in Halkidiki will be truly
A-list," says Ward Davis.
Other names to drop are: Laos ("For the
real backpacker experience"), Beirut ("Amazing restaurants, clubs and
bars. It's going to be very big in 2004") and Central America and
South America ("They are going to lose their reputations among British
travellers as places only frequented by people interested in trekking.
Buenos Aires will be especially popular because of the opening of El
Porteno, a vast luxury hotel, restaurant and bar complex created by
local fashion businessman Alan Faena and global style guru Philippe
Starck."). Another man tipping Central and South America is Mr
Peyton. "My place for 2004 would be Costa Rica. It's stunning: more
than 30 national parks, 5 per cent of the world's butterfly species,
amazing beaches. To stay there cheaply try the Montezuma hotel at Sano
Banano. For more luxury, I would recommend Makanda By The Sea in
Manuel Antonio." Also tipping Central and South America is the team
behind the exclusive and wonderfully demanding travel magazine
Nota Bene. It says, "Sao Paolo is Brazil's coolest city in a
country which is most definitely the hot destination for 2004. Great
hotels (we like the new Fasano), wonderful restaurants, top designer
shopping, fashionable and discerning crowd (unfortunately a huge
disparity between rich and poor but the rich certainly know how to
live)." Indeed, it will be publishing a special report on Brazil this
spring. And, Nota Bene's team adds: "Look out for Honduras and
Guatemala, as the natural follow-ons to Costa Rica." On the other side
of the world, it is tipping Shanghai. The man who gave us wallpaper*
magazine (which pioneered style travel to the most unlikely
destinations) and now runs the design consultancy Winkorp, also has
some interesting travel plans for 2004. Tyler Brule believes that
Maputo in Mozambique has what it takes to be cool - "A bit of a Brazil
vibe in Africa. The city has all the architecture to create its own,
South Beach-style scene". Closer to home he's betting his euros on
Monaco ("Why not? The reopened Hermitage makes the city the perfect
escape for anyone who wants excellent shopping, a good spa and a
non-stop freak-show outside their door") and Lisbon ("Good traditional
retail, a new hotel from Grace Leo Andrieu [responsible for the
Lancaster hotel in Paris] and a burgeoning design scene will make the
Portuguese capital the new hot weekender"). Oh, and the Son Brull
hotel, near Pollenca in Mallorca, will be the new stalking ground for
the paparazzi.
Another cool hunter is Christopher
Sanderson, creative director of the lifestyle and culture forecasting
think-tank The Future Laboratory, which has just produced a report on
cool travel trends for 2004. So where is he heading? "I'm off to
Aman-i-khas, Aman Resort's new venture in India - six of the most
luxurious tents known to man next to the remote tiger reserve
Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. The reason why the Aman group
keeps getting voted the best resort hotels by guides and magazines
around the world is, more than any other factor, the way it envelops
you with a feeling of warmth and family." And he also says to look out
for the emergence of the "hometel" - "more personal than a boutique
hotel, it's a cross between staying in a grand B&B and being a house
guest at the home of a friend who owns that dream town or country
house with every luxury on tap." More style than moolah? Well, those
nice people at STA Travel, the student and youth travel specialists,
have been asking their trend-setting customers where they will be
heading in 2004. Like Brule, many have their eyes on Mozambique and
the country's unspoilt beaches. And like the Elle posse, they are also
saving up to visit Argentina, "from the sophistication of Buenos Aires
to the wilds of Patagonia", says a spokeswoman And finally, as they
say, Jennifer Cox, shortly to be seen on BBC1 with Simon Calder
presenting the new travel show Perfect Holiday, insists that
Gothenburg is the place to be. Not only does it "party as hard as
Stockholm", but also the cool Hotel Odin Residence opened this month
(modern Scandinavian style, Bang & Olufsen televisions and CD players
in the apartments). And, Cox insists, make sure you have time to visit
the archipelago (Saltholmen is a good place to start). There are even
floating saunas. Well, you'll need that calming experience after all
the excitement we've discovered.
Top 10 destinations
1. Bhutan
The new Nepal for the jet set. Call Como Holidays 020-7447 1029.
2. Morocco
Morocco hasn't been this hot since the Getty-Stones-Pallenberg came
here. It's the new new Morocco. Contact Virgin Limited Edition
on the web or phone 0800 716 919.
3. Seychelles
The 1970s honeymoon haunt is the style spot for those after
relaxation. It's the new Maldives. Contact Seychelles Travel
on the web or phone 01202 877330.
4. Mozambique
Colonial-style capital with a few truly great hotels. It's the new
Cape Town. Contact Bridge the World
on the web or phone 0870 443 2399.
5. Argentina
It's the new Brazil and Mexico - sort of. Contact Travelbag
on the web or phone 0870 890 2179.
6. Greece
Be a sport and head to the home of the Olympics - plus there's a
booming boutique hotel scene. It's the new Italy. Contact Thomson
Holidays
on the web or phone 0870 165 0079.
7. Gothenburg
Compact party town with good Scandinavian shopping treats. It's the
new Stockholm. Go to the
City Break Guide website.
8. The Med
Monaco is the new Ibiza. Ibiza is the new Monaco. Mykonos is the new
Monaco and Ibiza. Ravers and socialites are as one in 2004. For
Monaco, contact British Airways
on the web or phone 0870 24 00 747. For Mykonos and Ibiza, contact
Thomas Cook
on the web or phone 0870 010 0437.
9. Costa Rica
Beautiful beaches and a back-to-nature vibe. Stunning hotels, too.
It's the new Mexico. Contact Travelbag
on the web or phone 0870 890 2179.
10. Beirut
The chicest city in the eastern Med. Great bars, clubs and
restaurants. It's the old Beirut. Contact Holiday Finders
on the web or phone 0870 013 0533.
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Tourist arrivals increase in 2003. (
Kuensel,
January 06, 2004)
Despite
bleak forecasts, the Bhutanese tourism industry has done well. In fact
the arrivals for 2003 surpassed the previous two years’.
A total of 6,300 tourists visited Bhutan in 2003 up from the 5,600
tourists in 2002 bringing in a gross revenue of over US$ eight million
according to the department of tourism. This is a 10 percent increase
but way below the arrivals in 2000. More than 7,500 tourists visited
Bhutan that year.
Etho Metho
tours and treks one of the larger tour companies in the country
brought in about 1,000 tourists in 2003. Another 600 came through the
Bhutan tourism corporation limited (BTCL) and 500 came through
international treks and tours. Yangphel tours, Mandela tours and treks
and Tashi tours brought in about 300 tourists each.
“Our tourist
arrivals increased during the autumn season, the season of festivals
and for trekking,” said the managing director of Etho Metho tours and
treks, Dago Beda.
Yangphel tour
and treks, however, said that the number of tourists coming through
them actually dropped in 2003. “We had more than 500 tourists last
year but this year our arrivals dropped by about 35 percent compared
to 2003” said Karma of Yangphel tour and treks. “About 70 percent of
our guests are usually Americans. Besides the war in Iraq, they were
worried about the war within our country,” he added. The DoT
disagrees that the operations to flush out the Indian militants
illegally camped in southern Bhutan in December had any impact on
tourist arrivals. “The areas normally visited by tourists didn’t face
any security threats,” said Lhatu Wangchuk. “We were quick to inform
clients and the tour operators abroad about it.” At present
there are 130 registered tour operators out of which only 82 are
operational. “The rest are basically non-existent,” Lhatu Wangchuk
said. Several tour operators shut up shop in the last two years and
many laid off employees to remain afloat. With the threat of severe
acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the region under control and the
war in Iraq long over the Bhutanese tourism industry is optimistic of
the year ahead.
Kuensel
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Tourism in 2002. January 23, 2003
The
Bhutanese tourism industry experienced a further melt-down for
the second consecutive year in 2002. But the slump, people in
the industry say, was expected. Tourist arrivals
dropped by 12.5 percent with a concomitant drop in gross
earnings of an estimated US $ 0.8 million in 2002, from an
already reduced figure of 2001, according to the department of
tourism (DoT). The two-year slump comes after a heady period of growth
averaging about 11 percent annually since privatization of the
industry in 1991. Tourist arrivals peaked in 2000 with about
7,559 visitors that year. Then the September 11 attacks slashed overseas arrivals by
almost a 1,000 in 2001. Only 5,594 tourists visited Bhutan in
2002, a drop of about 24 percent from the 2000 figure. In fact, 2002 never made a
good beginning. There was a sharp drop, as high as 30 percent,
in tourist arrivals in the spring season. The autumn season
was more promising with a 6.6 percent increase in arrivals
compared to 2001.
In 2002, about 770 visitors came through Etho Metho Tours & Treks Ltd. In 2001,
about 1152 visitors came through the company despite the September 11
attacks. A little over 600 tourists came through the Bhutan Tourism
Corporation Limited (BTCL), 545 through Intrek, 531 through
Yangphel, and 258 through Gangri.
The top five tour companies brought in 48.7 percent of 2002
arrivals. The next eight, 41.9 percent and the remaining 9.4
percent was shared among the 79 small tour operators with the
last six companies bringing a visitor each. American tourists arrivals further dropped by 11 percent,
Japanese by 14.1 percent, British by 23.8 percent, German by
16.4 percent, and French by 33.1 percent. Dutch and Australian
arrivals, however, increased slightly. The overall arrival of
European tourist was a downslide.
Almost all tourist hotels did bad business. Hotel River
View claims to have lost about Nu one million in 2002. The
industry today has 57 approved hotels with 1,013 rooms, most
of them concentrated in the western region of the country.
Source
Kuensel January 27, 2003. |
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