In a vibrant celebration of World Tourism Day, Bhutan’s Department of Tourism (DoT) introduced the innovative ‘Tourism Bhutan’ mobile application, aimed at enhancing the travel experience for visitors and streamlining services for local providers.
The newly launched app is designed as a comprehensive tool for tourists, offering features that allow users to meticulously plan their journeys, connect seamlessly with Bhutanese service providers, and provide real-time feedback to improve their travel experiences. Director of the DoT, Damcho Rinzin, emphasized the app’s pivotal role in pre-arrival preparations, urging potential visitors to download it prior to their trip to optimize their vacation plans.
“Tourism Bhutan will empower travelers with detailed information on itineraries, attractions, and essential travel tips,” Rinzin explained. “We are also working on integrating a secure payment gateway, making transactions effortless for our guests.”
Available on both Android and iOS platforms, the app currently offers static content with plans for future enhancements driven by user input, ensuring it evolves to meet the needs of its diverse user base.
Alongside the app launch, the DoT unveiled the ‘Tashel ZoomDu’ initiative—a virtual collaboration platform designed to foster communication within Bhutan’s tourism sector. This platform invites tourism stakeholders to share ideas, voice concerns, and pose inquiries, which are then addressed in monthly Zoom meetings. This initiative underscores Bhutan’s commitment to building a cooperative and dynamic tourism industry.
“We view tourism as a catalyst for peace and cultural exchange,” Rinzin added. “Our goal is to use tourism as a means to unite people and promote harmony.”
The World Tourism Day event, themed ‘Tourism and Peace,’ highlighted Bhutan’s dedication to sustainable tourism practices and its alignment with global efforts to foster peace and happiness through travel.
Minister for Industry, Commerce, and Employment, Namgyal Dorji, addressed the gathering, highlighting tourism’s potential as a significant economic driver. “We aim to maximize the benefits of tourism beyond mere revenue by fostering meaningful engagements with our visitors,” Dorji stated. He also called for a diversification of Bhutan’s tourism offerings, noting that current engagement levels yield limited returns.
Dorji advocated for Bhutan to become a year-round destination by expanding tourism initiatives to the eastern, southern, and central regions of the country. “It’s not about the volume of tourists but the value we provide through authentic and immersive experiences,” he noted. The government is actively developing customized projects to support this vision, focusing on unique and organic tourism packages that showcase Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.
Recent statistics from the DoT reveal that between January and July 2024, Bhutan welcomed 78,235 tourists. Of these, 54,618 were visitors from India, while 23,617 hailed from international destinations, including the United States, China, and Singapore. These numbers reflect a growing interest in Bhutan as a tranquil and culturally rich travel destination.
As Bhutan continues to innovate and expand its tourism infrastructure, initiatives like the ‘Tourism Bhutan’ app and ‘Tashel ZoomDu’ are set to play crucial roles in shaping the future of travel in the kingdom, ensuring that visitors enjoy a seamless and enriching experience while contributing to the nation’s peaceful and sustainable growth.
