As the border gate opening dates are nearing the hoteliers in the southern border towns are anticipating to welcome the regional tourists. Hoteliers have planned a warm way of welcoming the tourists on September 23, 2022.
Some have confirmed accommodation reservations from their loyal guests living across the border town, those who have been equally excited to step their feet in Bhutan and those whose travel plans have to be cancelled due to unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and protocols.
Travelers who genuinely want to explore Bhutan will not care much about the expenditure, they will find a means to fulfill their wish of visiting Bhutan.
However, many are worried that their business will slow down or even see a lesser occupancy rate as the regional tourists are mandated to pay the sustainable development fund (SDF), Nu 1200 for a day.
Some members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB) echoed the concerns of the majority of hoteliers in the border towns like Puentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jonkhar.
The members raised an issue where most of the regional tourists normally traveling in a large group with their families and friends be exempted from paying SDF Nu 1,200 on the first day.
It takes about a day to process their permits and other documents, unless they are aware that they can do it online, at the immigration check post.
If they can do it online, then why would they want to stay in hotels in Bhutan? They might not stay in border town hotels or eat from border town restaurants and contribute to the local economy.
They might prefer to stay in the hotels in the neighboring countries like Jaigaon or Siliguri and directly travel towards their destination.
There are people and investors across the border towns planning to change their commercial space into a lodge to offer competition on pricing and service to the hotels in the border towns.
Bhutan already has hotel establishments in the border towns. If the government could work out a modality that would benefit the hoteliers in the southern border town, the hoteliers could be at ease.
For example, if the guests enter from Phuentsholing main gate, all the way till Rinchending check point of entry. And if they don’t cross PoE, they should be offered 24 hours SDF-free stay to carry out their paper works.
While some hoteliers are excited, leaping with joy, some worries that the changes in the tourism policies might affect their business.
Some have confirmed accommodation reservations from their loyal guests living across the border town, those who have been equally excited to step their feet in Bhutan and those whose travel plans have to be cancelled due to unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic restrictions and protocols.
Travelers who genuinely want to explore Bhutan will not care much about the expenditure, they will find a means to fulfill their wish of visiting Bhutan.
However, many are worried that their business will slow down or even see a lesser occupancy rate as the regional tourists are mandated to pay the sustainable development fund (SDF), Nu 1200 for a day.
Some members of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan (HRAB) echoed the concerns of the majority of hoteliers in the border towns like Puentsholing, Samtse, Gelephu and Samdrup Jonkhar.
The members raised an issue where most of the regional tourists normally traveling in a large group with their families and friends be exempted from paying SDF Nu 1,200 on the first day.
It takes about a day to process their permits and other documents, unless they are aware that they can do it online, at the immigration check post.
If they can do it online, then why would they want to stay in hotels in Bhutan? They might not stay in border town hotels or eat from border town restaurants and contribute to the local economy.
They might prefer to stay in the hotels in the neighboring countries like Jaigaon or Siliguri and directly travel towards their destination.
There are people and investors across the border towns planning to change their commercial space into a lodge to offer competition on pricing and service to the hotels in the border towns.
Bhutan already has hotel establishments in the border towns. If the government could work out a modality that would benefit the hoteliers in the southern border town, the hoteliers could be at ease.
For example, if the guests enter from Phuentsholing main gate, all the way till Rinchending check point of entry. And if they don’t cross PoE, they should be offered 24 hours SDF-free stay to carry out their paper works.
While some hoteliers are excited, leaping with joy, some worries that the changes in the tourism policies might affect their business.
