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Strengthening Ecotourism in the Country


In a bid to boost ecotourism within the Protected Areas (PA) in Bhutan with its prospects of stretching its benefits tentacles outside PAs, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) mission in collaboration with Nature Recreation & Ecotourism Division (NRED) under DoFPS  has undertaken a study. The team led by Ms. Ester Marjan Kruk, Tourism specialist from ICIMOD has come up with 5 broad recommendations encompassing various components of ecotourism development which are currently specific to Wangchuck Centennial Park in Bumthang.
Chairing the debriefing by ICIMOD mission on WCP ecotourism strategy held yesterday, His Excellency Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema Gyamthso said, “Tourism cuts across cross section of the society, hence there is need to push its growth by extending the visiting season and also diversify products”. His Excellency added ecotourism is not only in line with what Bhutan adopted a green economy but the benefits tickles down to the grassroots.
In the presence of His Excellency the Minister, Hon’ble Secretary and other senior officials of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests, the team leader presented that through literature reviews, Workshops, participatory observations, Interviews, focal group discussions and Community exercises, they make recommendations such as Conservation recommendation, policy recommendation, Destination recommendations, Community Recommendation and Institution recommendation.
The recommendations take into accounts various components of ecotourism relating to Management plan, ecotourism development activities within WCP, Legislative system, standardization, tariff policy, overall destination development, product development, trekking routes, community involvement, homestays, interpretation and information, linking tourism with community development and quality standards.
The august gathering was offered the floor for through and exhaustive discussions after the presentation was made. The Hon’ble Secretary, Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen wanted to know from the set of recommendations, which should be pursued on priority. He cautioned if not done on such priority, the implementers could get lost on the way. Various discussions in participatory manner was held emanating the need to make ecotourism experience within and outside protected areas different, the tourist partnering in sustainable management and development of protected areas through collection of visiting fees. The deliberation on need to involve the local communities and other stakeholders during operation of ecotourism also claimed share of its time.
“Ecotourism is a viable means to both economic and conservation development in the Country,” said Dr. Karma Tshering, Chief Forestry Officer of the NRED. The bottomline in involving the communities as partner of ecotourism is they should exhibit their genuine interest, without which their expression of interest will be more of rhetoric. “There is also need to properly maintain the trails and the camping sites within the parks,” supplemented a participant who attended the debriefing with representatives from Tourism Council of Bhutan, Association of Bhutan Tour Operators and other private stakeholders.
The ecotourism package once proved successful in WCP will be replicated in other protected Areas of Bhutan.

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