Press Release- 2nd Stakeholders meeting
A town-hall consultative meeting with tourism stakeholders was organised by the Tourism Council of Bhutan Secretariat to discuss and update the stakeholders on the various tourism initiatives being undertaken. This consultative meeting is being held as per the government directives to hold consultative meetings bi annually with the stakeholders to update them on the progress.
The Royal Government’s initiative on Accelerating Bhutan’s Economic Development to significantly improve social and economic growth over the 10th plan period includes tourism as one of the priority sectors. The tourism initiatives is specifically aimed at generating employment for 25,000 and contribute to 15.0% of the total country’s GDP by the end of 2013.
To this end, the Tourism Council of Bhutan Secretariat has had various consultative meetings with different stakeholders to identify ways to create an enabling environment to improve the industry. Today’s meeting, besides updating the industry on the progress of the initiatives was also to discuss issues and find ways and means of resolving them. It was also to get feedback from the industry to be put up to the government if required.
Today’s meeting was attended by a wide representation of the industry and included representatives from the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO), Hotel Association of Bhutan (HAB), Handicrafts Association of Bhutan (HAB) and Guides Association of Bhutan (GAB).
It has been a fruitful meeting, where the private sector representatives presented their views which were duly noted and clarifications provided.
Some of the issues that were discussed pertained to:
- Tax incentives for hotels
- Skilled labour especially Chef, Mangers and Laundry personnel.
- Guide Commission
- Bad debts of the hoteliers
- FDI
- Opening of Manas
- Duty free cars for hotels.
- Rest areas
- Hotel star rating
10. Tax holidays for the hoteliers
11. Negative lists, permit and timings for Dzongs and Lhakhangs.
The next consultative meeting is due to be held in December, 2010.
