The 19th Tarayana Annual Fair was held at Coronation Park in Thimphu, marking the 22nd anniversary of the Foundation. The event also served as a tribute to Her Majesty The Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, the founding President of the Foundation, in celebration of Her Majesty’s 70th Birth Anniversary. The …

The Druk Green Power Corporation (DGPC) has estimated that the 18 MW Suchhu Hydropower Project is expected to generate Nu 290 million in revenue in 2025. The Suchhu Small Hydropower Project is part of the first phase of small hydropower initiatives launched by the government to enhance energy security and …

As the June deadline approaches for the end of loan deferments granted to hotels affected  during the COVID-19 pandemic, banks have begun reaching out to hoteliers to evaluate their financial readiness to resume repayments. Several hotel owners have been receiving calls from loan officers in recent weeks. One hotelier said, …

Bhutan’s exports to Thailand recorded a significant rise in 2024, reaching Nu 84 million, up from Nu 11.25 million in 2023. The sharp increase was driven primarily by the export of cordyceps, mushrooms, and spices, among other goods. Cordyceps was Bhutan’s top export to Thailand, valued at Nu 55.24 million …

The country’s economic outlook faces several downside risks, with delays in hydropower projects, unpredictable weather patterns, and global economic uncertainty emerging as major concerns. One of the main concerns is the delay in commissioning planned hydropower plants, which could slow economic growth and worsen both fiscal and external balances. Hydropower, …

Since the launch of the airfare subsidy in December 2024, a total of 4,236 the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) -paying tourists have taken advantage of the initiative. The subsidy was launched as a strategic investment to support Bhutan’s tourism sector, especially during the lean travel months of December, January, February, …

Recent reports of India’s withdrawal of transshipment facilities for goods from Bangladesh which raised concerns in Bhutan, particularly since Bangladesh is a significant trade partner, has been clarified by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment (MoICE). MoICE clarified that these changes do not affect Bhutan’s imports or exports with …

Hoteliers have raised concerns over T Bank’s recent decision to increase interest rates on existing loans, a move they fear could further destabilize their already fragile financial situation of the hotel industry. A hotelier, who availed a capital loan in 2018 for hotel construction, expressed concerns over the upward revision …

While the economy is expected to grow strongly in 2025, with the ADB projecting an 8.5% rise in GDP, the ferro alloy industry is facing challenges due to global uncertainty and local issues. Despite the positive economic outlook, some ferro alloy producers say they are not benefiting as much as …

From issues ranging from staffing, human resources to the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), hoteliers in Trashigang, Mongar, and Trashiyangtse speak to the factors affecting tourist flows and occupancy in the east. The Chairman of the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) noted that while the industry is not asking for …