The Bhutanese Leading the way.
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 a complete removal of the SDF, they are requesting that the competent authority provide discounts within the existing framework since the USD 100 SDF that is paid by the dollar paying tourists right now is at a discounted rate.
The Chairman highlighted that the government has already provided a 50% discount and that it would be possible to revive earlier discounts such as duration-based, student, and group discounts—options that were available before and do not contradict the SDF policy.
At Lingkar Lodge in Trashigang, the occupancy rate has seen a slight increase following the reopening of the Samdrup Jongkhar gate. However, the hotel cited several reasons why they continue to see fewer tourists compared to the western region. A key reason, they noted, is that most travel agents are based in the west. Coupled with the travel time—losing an entire day to reach the east from Thimphu—tourists often choose to stay in the west.
Guides, who play a crucial role in promoting and planning trips, often have limited knowledge of the eastern destinations, making it harder to market these areas. Transport logistics further complicate the matter. “For guests arriving from Guwahati, we hire vehicles from Phuentsholing, Paro, and Thimphu since we do not have vehicles for hire here,” said the hotel. Even guests arriving via Yonphula airport are met by vehicles sent all the way from Thimphu. The hotel uses its own vehicles whenever possible.
In terms of staffing, Lingkar Lodge faces difficulty hiring professional hospitality staff. “We hire class 10 and 12 dropouts and personally train them with what I know due to limited options,” said the hotel.
A hotelier in Mongar reflected on pre-COVID times, when occupancy used to hover around 70–80%. Today, numbers are much lower. They receive around 18% of the total occupancy.
They believe that the SDF is a primary reason why tourists shy away from the east. “They come to enjoy and rest, but for them to experience festivals and celebrations in the east, they end up spending at least a night travelling,” the hotel noted.
With travel time from Bumthang to Mongar taking 8 hours and an additional 3 hours to reach Trashigang, tourists spend a significant portion of their trip on the road. “The SDF in the east is the same as in the west, where there are far more tourists,” the hotel pointed out. In contrast, western destinations like Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha are closely connected and easier to travel.
The hotel also noted that they do not expect regional tourists to visit the eastern region. Adding to the challenge is the issue of cancelled bookings due to flight cancellations at Yonphula airport. “We barely receive any guests now,” said the hotel.
The hotel also shared concerns regarding human resource stating that since they do not have the budget to give higher salaries to the workers, they cannot hire professionals all the time.
In Trashiyangtse, a hotel operator who took over their family business in 2022 has noticed gradual improvement in occupancy. Contributing factors, according to the hotel, include the Rhododendron Festival in Sheytemi and the repair of the 4 km stretch of road in Buyang, which had previously deterred tourists. “We’ve gotten positive feedback from guides and drivers,” they said.
Cultural revival appears to be playing a role in drawing visitors. “We have started reviving our age-old traditions like the Namgang Kora, where we sing in the night. I think that must have attracted some numbers,” said the hotel. They’ve also suggested that the dzongkhag explore implementing hikes and eco-trails, which could be feasible and boost visitor numbers, although there isn’t a solid response as of now.
Tourists frequently express their appreciation for the eastern experience. “Upon interacting with the tourists, we often hear that the authentic Bhutanese experience is in the east,” the hotel shared.
Despite recent improvements, the SDF remains a challenge. “We used to get around 10–11 tourists a month back in 2022, and now it has improved,” the hotel noted, adding that the Samdrup Jongkhar entry point has been helpful for allowing travel to the west from the east.
However, due to the uncertainty of tourist arrivals and the volatile nature of the tourism industry, the hotel remains cautious about hiring too many staff. “We are lacking in service because we don’t know if we will receive guests or how many we’ll get in a year.”
