Bhutan : Druk Air celebrates its silver jubilee

September 2: 25 years ago, in 1983, the first 18 seater Dornier took off from Paro opening the gates of Bhutan to the outside world. In February 1983, the Royal Bhutan Airlines started its first operation with one aircraft flying to the Indian city of Kolkatta twice a week.

Two and half decades down the line, Druk Air flies to several destinations including Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkatta, Dhaka, Bodh Gaya and Nepal with two 319 air buses.

As 2008 marks the 25 years of operation for Druk Air, a function was organized here in the capital to mark the event.

His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck was the Guest of Honour.

Speaking at the gathering, Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck said under the wise leadership of His Majesty the King, air transportation has played a pivotal role in the development of the nation.

Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) is the parent organization for Druk Air. The Chairman of DHI Om Pradhan in his inaugural address said that Druk Air has also contributed to revenue generation of the country by bringing in more tourists.

In 1983, Dasho Sonam Tshering who was then working as an engineer with the Druk Air in Kolkatta recollects going to receive the passengers at the Kolkatta airport. He said only about two or three passengers would get out of the 18 seater aircraft. There would be around 20 people receiving them at the airport. In a year only about three thousand will fly by Druk Air.

This was the situation then. But today, about 130,000 passengers fly by the national airline annually.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Druk Air credits the growth to government support, better aircrafts and increased frequency of flights.

Talking about the financial aspect, the CEO Tandin Jamtso said the Druk Air is doing well and is able to meet the operational costs at the moment. He said they are however still running under loss because of accumulative costs.

The CEO said in order to make full utilization of the aircrafts, Druk Air besides its regular flights also leases out the aircraft during night halts in Bangkok.

Also as part of the celebrations, His Royal Highness Prince Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck gave away certificates of appreciation to past Chairmen and Managing Directors of Druk Air. Certificates were also awarded to the senior staff of Druk Air.

Druk Air has also plans to introduce flights to Bangkok via Bagdora in India. It has also plans to introduce direct flights to destinations like the US not necessarily via Druk Air but through partner airlines in other countries.

www.bbs.com.bt

Bhutan : Druk Air cuts flights to offset fuel hike

19 June, 2008 - Druk Air, the national airline, has temporarily slashed its flight frequency on several routes to deal with the 25 percent average hike for the year 2007-08 in aviation turbine fuel prices and the lean tourist season.

Flights to Bangkok have been reduced to six from eight flights a week, with the Friday flight via Kolkata and the Saturday flight via Dhaka gone to the chopping block. The four flights a week on five routes from Paro to Dhaka, Delhi, Gaya, Katmandu and Kolkata, have been cut by a flight each.

Druk Air expects to make a cost saving of 28 percent of the operating cost, or Nu 6.5 million a week, from the reduced flying frequency.

It is also timely for the national airline as passenger numbers drop in July, August and September, the lean season for tourists visiting Bhutan. “We sometimes have only about 20 passengers when we can carry 114 and, with the increase in the fuel price everywhere in the world, it has now become imperative to maintain costs,” said the deputy managing director of the Druk Air, Tandin Jamtsho, who went on to add that 45 percent of the airline operating cost goes on fuel.

He went on to say that the management was also contemplating increasing airfares. “We’ll be able to work out the airfare in a week’s time and we want to fix the fare by comparing it to the other competitive airlines,” said Tandin Jamtsho. “We’ll make sure that the rise in the airfare will be marginal so that it doesn’t pinch passenger pockets.”

The regular air timetable will, however, resume with the start of the autumn tourist season in October, said Druk Air officials.

A finance officer in Druk Air, Rinzin Dorji, said that aviation fuel price varied from month to month but since mid-2007 the fluctuation was sudden and very steep.

Following the global crude oil price hike, state-owned oil firms in India have increased additional fuel surcharges by Rs 300 on short-haul routes and Rs 550 on long-haul routes per passenger to cushion the 18.5 percent increase in price of aviation turbine fuel in India.

Druk Air sources aviation fuel from India.

The station manager of Bhutan oil distributors (BOD) in Paro, Sonam Namgyal, said that the Grade JET-A-1 aviation turbine fuel (ATF), that has a freezing point of -470C and a flashpoint of 380C, is the most viable fuel for all commercial flights. The fuel is transported from the Hashimara aviation fuel station in West Bengal, India.

Druk Air lifts an average of 50,000 litres a month from the Bhutan oil distributors’ station in Paro. It also refuels at different airports outside Bhutan.

According to Rinzin Dorji, aviation turbine fuel costs Rs 56.10 in Kolkata, Rs 51.88 in Delhi, Rs 65 in Katmandu, Rs 52.95 in Gaya, Nu 54.31 in Dhaka, Nu 43.80 in Bangkok and Nu 63.17 in Bhutan. “The high price in Bhutan is mainly because of transportation, commission and shrinkage charges that BOD include in their selling price of the fuel,” said Rinzin Dorji.

Druk Air also uplifts fuel from Bangkok, Delhi and Kolkata, where the prices are relatively lower.

http://www.kuenselonline.com

Bhutan : Druk Air nearly collides with military aircraft

May 8: On Thursday, the national airline Druk Air nearly collided with a military aircraft over Bangladesh. The plane had taken off from Dhaka en route to Bangkok with about 120 passengers on board.

Speaking to BBS the CEO of Druk Air Tandin Jamtsho said the plane had just taken off from Dhaka when the pilot received a warning from Traffic Alert & Collision Avoidance System (TCAS). The Bangladeshi military aircraft was flying over the Druk Air plane.

He said the air controller at the Zia international airport had not informed the Druk Air pilot that the military aircraft was flying over the Druk Air plane.

Military and commercial airlines in Bangladesh share the same runway.

The Druk Air CEO said they have already filed a report with the Department of Civil Aviation asking it to take up the matter with the Bangladeshi Aviation Authority. They have also filed a report with the Bangladeshi aviation authorities.

www.bbs.com.bt

Bhutan : Another scare for Druk Air

7 February, 2009 - Cracks on a flight deck windscreen yesterday forced a Druk Air plane to make an emergency landing at Kolkata international airport. No one was hurt.

Druk Air flight KB-123 was flying from Bangkok to Gaya.

The Druk Air pilot, on noticing the cracks, contacted Kolkata air traffic control for an immediate landing. The aircraft landed safely at 10:00 am without any injury to passengers and crew members.

This is the second such incident to have affected a Druk Air flight. The first occurred in May last year.

Druk Air’s managing director, Tandin Jamtsho, told Kuensel that they sent technical engineers to Kolkata, along with a new windshield.

Tandin Jamtsho said that the cause of the cracks was not known, adding that, in such a situation, damaged parts were sent to the manufacturer for investigation.

The flight to Katmandu and Nepal, scheduled on February 6, was cancelled because the aircraft was used to carry the stranded passengers at Kolkata to their destination.

Druk Air’s engineering and maintenance division, general manager Thrimchong Wangdi, said that the cracked windscreen was replaced. He said, however, that fatality in such situations was minimal, as there were other elements, such as nuts and bolts, that prevented the windscreen from blowing out.

“In a similar incident in May last year, the report from the manufacturer blamed a short circuit of the heating elements in the multi-piled windscreen that prevent fog and frost,” he said.

The windshield bought earlier for about US$ 9000 would be sent to its manufacturer in the United States and the aircraft with the new windshield is expected to be back in Paro by 8:30 am today. Around 50 passengers to Delhi and Kathmandu were stranded yesterday because of the cancellation of their flight.

By Passang Norbu
passa@kuensel.com.bt

http://www.kuenselonline.com/

Druk Air out of the red once more

3 April, 2008 - Despite losing Nu 142.526 million from the sale of its two old BAE-146 aircraft, Druk Air has managed to stay out of the red, for the second year in a row, by making a net profit of Nu 31.15 million in the 2006-07 financial year.

The total profit for the year was Nu 495.405 million before deducting taxes, depreciation and the losses from the sale of the old planes. In 2005-06, the national airline had made a profit of Nu 88.02 million.

The two old aircraft were sold for around US$ 3.5 million, along with an extra engine and spare parts. “Due to the good condition and maintenance of our aircraft, we got a very good international price, considering that in China these planes were being sold for US$200,000 a plane,” said Druk Air’s deputy managing director of finance, Rinzin Dorjee.

Druk Air corporation is now worth Nu 3.908 billion, down from Nu 4.048 billion in the previous financial year, and net losses have decreased from Nu 626.216 million in the previous year to Nu 595.062 million, bringing it a bit closer to achieving a positive balance after decades of losses.

“Our main avenues of returns are traffic revenue (ticket sales of Nu 1.030 billion), lease earnings (Nu 118.265 million) and other operating revenues (Nu 88.203 million),” said Rinzin Dorjee. The total revenue in 2006-07 was Nu 1.416 billion, up from Nu 1.332 billion in 2005-06.

In spite of soaring fuel prices, flight operating costs came down to Nu 546.53 million, compared to Nu 553.73 million in the previous year. Expenditure was also down in areas like lease expenses, commissions to travel agents and duty free shops. However, expenditure went up in areas like maintenance, employee benefits, passenger cargo service, marketting, and administration. An area of concern is the falling dollar, which has hit Druk Air with losses of Nu 21.29 million.

Of Druk Air’s funds, its total shareholder value is Nu 2.225 billion which, after deducting the two-decade long net losses, is valued at Nu 1.631 billion.

The corporation also has a Nu 507.16 million long-term interest-free loan from the government and government bonds worth Nu 1.769 billion. This brings the total assets of the airlines to Nu 3.908 billion.

These sources of funds of Druk Air are accounted for in Nu 1.045 billion in cash and bank balances and Nu 64.94 million in debts owed to it by others. It also has current assets worth Nu 19.104 million and inventories (office articles, etc.) worth Nu 118.888 million. The corporation has planes and other heavy equipment worth around Nu 2.806 billion, after deducting depreciation charges. There is also a deduction of Nu 161.73 million in liabilities. The books eventually balance out to Nu 3.908 billion in funds at hand and invested.

http://www.kuenselonline.com/

Bhutan : Bagdogra - Possible new Druk Air destination

11 August, 2008 - Civil aviation authorities are looking into the possibility of adding Bagdogra as a new destination to Druk Air’s existing flight routes in India.

A bilateral meeting between the two governments held in Delhi last month indicates that Bagdogra had already been granted as “an additional point of call” for the designated airline of Bhutan by the civil aviation ministry in India.

“With this agreement, Druk Air could operate services to Bagdora and beyond, particularly to Bangkok and Kathmandu via Bagdora,” said the director general of civil aviation department, Phala Dorji.

“If Druk Air is interested to use this route, we have to inform the Indian authority about the plan to operate from Bagdogra and give them three months’ notice,” he said. The time would allow the Indian government to make preparations on their side.

He said that the Druk Air would have to consider other obligations and also see .whether they could cope with the new route given the existing number of aircrafts.

“They’ll also have to do certain marketing in terms of traffic and study the feasibility of operating beyond Bagdogra,” he said.

In order to fly from Bagdogra to Bangkok and Kathmandu, a proper agreement needs to be drawn up with the respective authorities in Thailand and Nepal.

“We can still fly passengers from Bagdora to Bangkok but need to get clearance from the authority in Thailand to fly passengers from Bangkok to Bagdogra. Same is true in case of Nepal,” said Phala Dorji.

However, the civil aviation officials are optimistic that their counterparts in Thailand and Nepal would respond positively.

Meanwhile, a memorandum of understanding signed during the meeting also ensured the use of any airport in India for relief operations in case of any disaster at the Paro airport.

Assistant planning officer, Sithar Dorji, said that factors like Bhutan’s location in a seismically active zone and Paro airport being located near the river, with high chances of flash floods, posed threats to the airport.

“We have only one airport so, if there are any sort of natural calamities or disasters and if the airport becomes unusable, they’ll allow us to use any airport in India,” he said. It was also agreed that, in the event of any accidents with aircraft of Druk Air or foreign ones operating in Bhutanese air space or territory, India would provide assistance in search and rescue operations.

“For search and rescue operations, we need to have equipment in place and this entails huge expenses. We don’t have such facilities and they’ve agreed to help us,” said Phala Dorji.

He said that, although there was no such understanding signed before, it was always assumed that the Indian government would chip in during such eventualities. “They have been always been very supportive,” he said.

By Kesang Dema
kesang64@kuensel.com.bt

http://www.kuenselonline.com

Bhutan : Drukair set to spread its wings

4 September, 2008 - As Drukair celebrated its Silver Jubilee on Monday, September 1, the national airline has plans to soar higher by including more routes and destinations.

Managing director Tandin Jamso said that Drukair will start its Paro-Bagdora-Bangkok route from mid 2009, while it is looking into the possibility of flying to the USA by using partner airlines from Bangkok.

“We’re also planning to increase our routes by improving interline agreements with our airline partners so that any Bhutanese passenger can go to any other destination besides what Drukair offers today,” said Tandin Jamso. Today Drukair’s interline partners are Thai airways, Bangkok air, Bangladesh air, Delhi air and Kathmandu airways.

“At the moment our airline’s not compatible with other airlines such as Thai. We need to have interline booking system,” said Tandin Jamso.

Drukair’s plan to launch a service from Katmandu to Bombay last year was shelved because of increases in fuel price and airport charges in Bombay. Drukair also slashed its flight frequency to Bangkok, but Tandin Jamso said that, by October this year, Druk Air will have seven flights a week to Bangkok.

Commending the services of the national airline, His Royal Highness, Dasho Jigyel Ugyen Wangchuck, in his keynote address, said that Druk Air has played a pivotal role in the nation’s development. “It opened landlocked Bhutan’s doors to air transportation, which has not only benefited our economy, but also strengthened our sovereignty,” he said.

“The benefits of urgent travel will continue to matter tremendously to a landlocked population for whom washed-out roads, mule trails and walking for hours to school remain a reality. For landlocked Bhutan, the air transportation link is a vital necessity that can’t be compromised for economic considerations alone.”

His Royal Highness also awarded certificates to former managing directors and other staff, including an Indian luggage loader based in Kolkata, who has served Druk Air since it started in 1983. The new dress for cabin crew was also launched during the celebration.

Cabinet ministers, senior government officials, the chairperson of the Druk Holding and Investment, and senior members of the armed forces joined the celebration on Monday. From its modest start in 1983, Drukair has ferried about 130,000 passengers in 2007 compared to 3,000 in 1983.

The change in the country’s only airline is best described by loader Saltu Choudhary, who came to collect his award. “From a dozen bags in 1983, I handle hundreds of baggage every time Drukair lands in Kolkata,” he said.

Druk Air was founded in 1981 by a Royal Proclamation.

By Tenzin Namgyel

http://www.kuenselonline.com

Bhutan : Druk Air to fly via Bagdogra

February 12: Beginning April, Druk Air will fly to Bangkok via Bagdogra, a domestic airport in West Bengal, India. Flights to Bangkok via Bagdora will operate four days in a week.

On Tuesdays and Saturdays, the Druk Air flight from Paro to Bangkok will stop at Bagdogra instead of Kolkatta, Dhaka or Gaya but flights from Bangkok to Paro will fly via Kolkatta as usual.

On Sundays and Wednesdays, Druk Air flights from Bangkok to Paro will stopover at Bagdogra instead of Gaya and Kolkatta.

The Commercial General Manager of Druk Air, Tshering Penjore said flying through Bagdogra would ease the traffic as no international flights are using the airport at the moment.

www.bbs.com.bt

Bhutan export vegetables to Bangladesh

August 2: Bhutanese vegetables are in huge demand in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. The first consignment of fresh vegetables was flown by Druk Air on a trial basis.

The trial marketing of fresh vegetables to Bangladesh has been a huge success according to agriculture officials.

The fresh vegetables were flown in by Druk Air to Bangladesh to be sold in supermarkets in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka.

Two consignments of about one ton were flown by Druk Air last month.

The Agriculture Marketing Services of the Agriculture Ministry says the trail export of fresh vegetables has received encouraging response from importers in Bangladesh.

The vegetables exported include asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, peas, beans and green chilies.

Trail marketing of vegetables to Bangladesh was done in 2005 by road but this is the first time that the vegetables were flown by air.

The chief marketing officer said this has been made possible with the cost concession provided by Druk Air. The national airline is charging 30 cents per kilogram.

Around this time of the year, there is acute scarcity of fresh vegetables in Dhaka and the demand for any fresh vegetable is high.

The agriculture marketing services said a Memorandum of Understanding with the importers will have to be signed so that production planning for future export can be done and also Bhutanese will know about the quality required.

The vegetables are packaged at the National Post Harvest centre in Paro and exported by Zomllay Exports and Imports.

www.bbs.com.bt

Bhutan : Global economic recession hits the Bhutanese tourism industry

January 6: The global economic recession has hit the Bhutanese tourism industry. More than 1,500 tourists have cancelled their trip to Bhutan in 2009.

2008 was a good year for the Bhutanese tourism industry. The Coronation and Centenary celebrations also attracted a good number of tourists taking the official record to close to 28,000 compared to a little over 21,000 in 2007. But the prospects in 2009 look bleak for the tourism sector. Tour operators are now worried that more tourists may cancel their visit to Bhutan because of the global economic downturn.

So far, more than 1,500 tourists have cancelled their trips to Bhutan for this year. March and April is a peak tourist season for Bhutan but some tour operators said they will have only a few tourists coming to Bhutan through them. They are also worried that more tourists may cancel their trip for September and October, another peak tourist season.

Tshewang Rinzin from Sakten Tours and Travels says about 200 of his clients have cancelled their trip.

Likewise, other tour operators have seen similar cancellations. Some tourists are keeping their travel plans on hold.

As an interim measure, the tour operators along with the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) have requested the Tourism Council of Bhutan to keep its plan to increase the tariff to 250 dollars on hold. Tour operators fear that the new revision will lead to further cancellations.

The Tourism Council of Bhutan has decided to increase the tariff to 250 dollars, an increase of $50, from July 1. The tour operators have requested the tourism council to keep the plan on hold till the global economic situation improves.

The Tourism Council of Bhutan says they are working with ABTO, the Druk Air and the hoteliers to address the problem. The Council has also had discussions with stakeholders and their recommendations have been put up to the government for approval.

ABTO and the Tourism Council are also working on tourism promotion strategies. This month, around twelve tour companies from Bhutan will participate in an International Travel Fare in Spain while nine other tour operators will take part in one of the World’s Biggest Travel fare in Germany in March.

ABTO and the Tourism Council are also requesting the Druk Air and the hoteliers to keep the tariff low at least for this year.

www.bbs.com.bt

Bhutan : Drukair launches new online system

July 19, 2009 - Flying with the national airline Drukair can sometimes be an arduous affair. But the chances of your Drukair experience being a pleasurable one may have just increased with the airline launching a new online information, reservation and ticketing service yesterday.

Services that are available on the system include online reservations, electronic ticketing, information accessibility to air fares and real time seat availability, and departure control services which includes checking in before your departure date, not just for Drukair but any airline that is a member of IATA (International Air Transport Association).

Drukair IT engineer, Tshultrim Dorji, said, the new system was only operational at the airline’s offices currently. The system will be accessible on any computer connected to the internet by the end of October. He said the new system would be more reliable and secure than the present one. Technical support, in case of network problems will be available 24x7 for Drukair, ensuring less problems than the present system which will be discontinued on October 24.

Drukair has chosen an airline reservation system operated by SITA HORIZON, a multinational company that specializes in providing telecommunications and other information technology for the airline industry.

The airline hopes the new system will improve its information accessibility and ticketing services, which has in the past, come under criticism.

A spokesperson for the airline said the system would make traveling with Drukair a much more convenient experience.

By Gyalsten K Dorji

http://www.kuenselonline.com/

Tag : bhutan,bhutan tour,druk air,bhutan king

Bhutan - Traveling to Bhutan, the Mystical Land of the Thunder Dragon

If you have the cash saved up, a little time and planning can get you to this land locked Himalayan Kingdom and open up a wonder world of picturesque landscapes, enchanting villages, snow capped mountains, ageless forests, erotic sculptures, dark musty monasteries and a culture so rich and steeped in time you will think you have indeed been transported back a few hundred years.

Firstly you have to get to Paro. The government imposed rule is that you must fly at least one way with the National Carrier, Druk Air. As Druk is actually the only carrier that flies into Paro, Bhutan's airport, then the choice is easy. Druk flies a couple of times a week from Kathmandu, Bangkok and Dehli.

Booking your trip is no easy task with so many online tour operators all offering package tours to Bhutan. The Government of Bhutan has set a daily tariff fee for foreigners visiting the country. Many people confuse this with the visa fee and think that is what costs so much. In fact the visa to visit Bhutan is only US$25. Tours are expensive due to the imposed daily tariff.

Many companies offer what look like value for money Bhutan Tours, but inspect the itineraries closer, especially for tours that commence in places like Kathmandu, Bangkok or Delhi, they may include your flight to Paro, but check out how many days you will actually be spending inside Bhutan as that is where the money should be spent. Some tour agents fluff out tours by selling a ten day trip, where only five days may actually be in Bhutan and the rest doing sightseeing around the joining point country.

Look for a tour that you can meet in Paro, making your own way there will ensure that you get 100% value for money inside Bhutan. If you book a tour with an agent they will most likely be able to help you with arranging your flights.

The best time to visit Bhutan is of course the main festival seasons where the culture and colour is at its best. During these times, normally March, April, September and October, it can be very hard to book a flight. So make sure you book well ahead and get your agent to arrange and confirm flights for you (most airlines can be booked up to 10 months in advance only). Also double check that if you are booking your tour to coincide with a festival, that you will get the chance to see one. During these festival times the tariff rate will be at a premium. If festivals are not your thing, then try going outside of season and you should be able to get as much as a 30% discount on your tour.

As a trip to Bhutan is such a 'once in a lifetime experience' a true travel investment you should choose your tour operator wisely. As all tours to Bhutan are pre arranged, it's all too easy for a travel company to tack Bhutan tours onto their list of tours without having properly made contacts with agents inside Bhutan. As Bhutan tours are 100% operated by Bhutanese tour companies, you should be looking for a company that either represents a Bhutan Agent or is a certified tour operator for Bhutan. I could not think of anything worse than spending a lot of money and not getting to see half the things mentioned on the itinerary or having a poorly arranged holiday.

When planning your trip, obviously your budget will factor the amount of days you are able to spend in Bhutan. Here are a few places that you must see, so make sure that your itinerary and time frame covers them.

Kichu Lhakhang- This Monastery is one of the 108 monasteries built across the Himalayan region by the Tibetan King to subdue the Demoness that lay across the Himalayan region.

Taktsang Monastery- The Tigers Nest. This is one of the most famous sights in Bhutan. The monastery is perched on a cliff in the midst of a lush green jungle. It is reached by a short walk and offers stunning views. This is one of the most memorable sights to visit in Bhutan and the main reason why a lot of visitors come here. The primary Lhakhang was built around Guru Rimpoche's meditation cave in the 1684 by the Penlop of Paro Gyaltse Tenzin Rabgay, this incredible monastery clings to the edge of a sheer rock cliff that plunges 900 meters into the valley below. Legend has it that Guru Padmasambhava, the tantric mystic who brought Buddhism to Bhutan, flew here on the back of a flying tiger, Dorji Drolo, said to be his favorite consort.

The Tango Monastery- The trail Tango is a climb of 280 meters and it takes an hour to reach the monastery. Lama Gyalwa Lhanampa founded the monastery in 12th century. The building was re-built in 15th century by the "Divine Madman". This is one of the best places for meditation in Bhutan.
Chimi Lhakhang- Built by Lama Drukpa Kuenley in 15th century. (This monk is popularly known as the Devine Madman for his philosophy, "Salvation through sex"). He subdued the demons with his "Magical Thunder bolt". The Temple is also known as "The Temple of Fertility". Sterile women from far and wide come to this Temple to get blessed.

Wangdiphodrang Dzong- Built in 1638. Legend has it as the people were searching for the site of this Dzong, four ravens were seen flying away in four directions. This was considered an auspicious sign, representing the spread of religion to the four points of the compass.

Chendebji Monastery- This Monastery is patterned after Swayambhunath in Kathmandu and was built in the 19th century by Lama Shida, from Tibet, to cover the remains of an evil spirit that was killed at this spot.
Trongsa Dzong- I think that this is the most impressive fort in Bhutan. The present form was built in 1644 and was built in aim to unify Eastern Bhutan. The Dzong, which means fort in Bhutanese is the present home of the Royal Family and the first two hereditary kings who rule the country from this place.

Gangtey Gompa - This is famous for the Black Necked Cranes during winter. These cranes are very rare and endangered and highly protected by the Government. These cranes fly to Phobjikha valley which is their winter habitat. The Cranes circle three times in a clock-wise direction around the Gangtey Gompa as a reverence to the Monastery before landing in the valley. They repeat the same practice before flying back to Tibet in early spring.

Tag : Bhutan,Mystical Land,Thunder Dragon

Bhutan - Bhutan Travel Experience and the Asian Switzerland

The myth and fascinating reality of Switzerland showcased in a million stories and anecdotes as Europe's paradise on earth has permeated the global consciousness for generations. From Swiss watches to Swiss cheese and from the Swiss Alps to the breath-taking beauty of Swiss lakes, no other country the same size has made its mark on cultures. With one exception though-Bhutan. This is at least true though for those adventure-seeking globe trotters who have experienced Bhutan travel first hand not by watching a stunning National Geographic special on Bhutan treks, Bhutan holidays or Bhutan vacations but by stepping on Bhutanese soil by traveling to Bhutan as a guest of the monarchy since every tourist is a revered guest.

Bhutan travel encompasses at least a Dozen Twists...
Bhutan isn't called "the Land between Heaven and Earth," or "the Fairyland Kingdom," or "Shangri-la" for nothing. The government has sensibly promulgated a long list of rules that govern Bhutan travel. Here are a few for starters all of which have done the job to letter perfection and preserved the pristine cultural and natural heritage of the country:

Planning your Bhutan travel itinerary
You can't simply pick up your bags, board a flight and hop off at the airport in Bhutan, You can visit Bhutan only by participating in a government sponsored travel program in which you pay approximately $250 per day to enjoy the penultimate Bhutan travel experience. The daily fee includes just about everything-your hotel stay, food, personal tour guide, private transportation, entry tickets to monasteries and other places of interest, and once in a while, a meal at an ethnic Bhutanese restaurant. We have both good and bad news for shopoholics. The bad news is that the Bhutan government won't pay you for your personal shopping. The good news, however, is that there is a mind-boggling array of choices to select from most of which are so cheap that you are going to run out of money before you know it!

Visa for Bhutan travel
The visa for your Bhutan travel program is going to be issued by your tour operator and not by any embassy. It will run you no more than $20 per person. We think that's a deal and we know you will agree. This helps the Bhutan government to cautiously control how many tourists are allowed into the country each year much like non-immigrant visas. Bottom line? Plan early because the whole world is gradually beginning to find out what a genuine deal Bhutan travel happens to be and we obviously wouldn't want you to be disappointed!

Bhutan travel means one airport one airline
There is only one airport in the entire country located at Paro and there is only one airline, Druk Air, which flies into the country and that too from no more than about half a dozen countries. It is therefore a great idea to plan your Bhutan holiday at least three or four months in advance so that you are blessed with all the convenient flight connections there are available. Many travelers, who have shared their Bhutan experience first hand through blogs and wikis, have mentioned that the process of landing and take off in Bhutan is an experience on to itself.

What to see when you travel to Bhutan

Now that we have hopefully peaked your curiosity, we want you to conduct some research on Bhutan. Troll the Internet, check out a few travel guides, and most importantly, post an inquiry on your Facebook page to help you find a friend or business associate who has visited Bhutan. You don't need any Wikipedia articles to convince you because everyone who visits Bhutan, tends to rave about it and often wonders aloud why they didn't take the trip a lifetime ago.

Bhutan : RCSC announces transfer and appointment of senior officials

June 20: The Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) has announced several executive appointments and transfers.

The Secretary of the Dzongkha Development Commission Dasho Tashi Phuntshog has been transferred as the Secretary of the Cultural and Political Affairs of the Cabinet Secretariat.

The former Director General of the erstwhile Department of Aid and Debt Management Sonam Wangchuk has been appointed as the Director General of Economic Affairs of the Cabinet Secretariat.

The former Director General of the erstwhile Department of Tourism Lhatu Wangchuk has been appointed as the Director General of the Department of Bilateral Affairs of the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

The former Managing Director of Druk Air Sangay Tenzing has been appointed as the Director General of the Department of Roads.

The Director of the Department of Roads Phuntsho Wangdi has been appointed as the Director of Standard and Quality Control Authority.

The former Director of the Royal Institute of Management Sonam Phuntsho has been appointed as the Director of the Department of Information and Media.

The RCSC has also announced the early retirement of six senior officials.

They are the former Zhung Kalyon Dasho Rinzin Gyeltshen, the former Secretary of the erstwhile Ministry of Trade and Industry Dasho Karma Dorji, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources Dasho Pema L. Dorji, the former Secretary of the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement Tshering Dorji, the former Director General of the Department of Forest Dasho Dawa Tshering and the former Director of Dratshang Lhentshog Ngawang Phuntsho.

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Bhutan : Government failed to address youth issues: Prime Minister

July 16: A week long programme of the golden youth camp concluded yesterday. Addressing the youth as the leaders of the future of Bhutan, the Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, congratulated all the 72 participants. He also urged them to lead their fellow students towards the right direction by being the role model.
Expressing his concern over the youth issues the Prime Minister said that the government has failed to address them.

“We see more and more youths engaging themselves in the unproductive activities like gang fights, drug abuse and alcohol. It is even more heart aching to learn that young girls are taking up prostitution. And many are school dropout but unemployed. Government could not do much to prevent and help address the problems,” said the Prime Minister.

The Prime Minister, however, thanked the Non-government organizations like the Youth Development Fund, RENEW, and Tarayana for addressing the youth related issues.

During the programme, some 72 best students competed in various disciplines of games and sports, literature, and cultural activities. The Prime Minister attended the closing ceremony.

Four best students were awarded trophies and certificates. A lot of emotional exchanges took place in the green room, hugging and embracing.

Thinley Dorji from YHS was awarded the Golden Youth Title Holder Trophy. He said it took his academic performances and other co-curricular excellence to achieve the title.

The participants said that the experiences they have gained in the program were enriching.

The participants also performed cultural activities.

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Tag : bhutan,druk air,bhutan tour,paro

Bhutan - Black necked cranes sighted in Gelephu

A family of four black necked cranes has apparently decided to spend this winter season in Chuzergang in Gelephu. Residents who sighted the four spectacular birds prancing about merrily in the paddy fields are overjoyed.

Rinchen Lhato, a resident, said “the birds have been here for a week or so now.”

They are hopeful that this is not a stray incident and that the birds, which are seen as good omen, have decided to make Chuzergang their home.

This is the first time that the endangered birds were sighted roosting in Chuzergang in Gelephu or anywhere in southern Bhutan. Their main roosting areas in Bhutan are Phobjikha in Wangdue and Bumdeling in Trashiyangtse.

“I have asked many people here and nobody has seen them before in this region. When we talked to an expert we found that the cranes may have lost their way to their actual habitat,” said Sonam Wangdi, a forest ranger.

The cranes were first spotted in Chuzergang on November 14.

Officials from the Royal Society for Protection of Nature also visited the areas. According to them it is not unusual to see the cranes in lower altitudes.

Tag : bhutan,bhutan travel,bhutan king,druk air

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Bhutan - Reconstruction of Chamkhar progressing well

His Majesty’s Representative for People’s Welfare in Bumthang, Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck visited Chamkhar town where a major reconstruction work is underway.

Almost half of Chamkhar town was razed to the ground in a devastating fire in the small hours of October 26.

During the visit yesterday morning, Her Royal Highness expressed satisfaction with the progress of the reconstruction work. Some 300 Royal Bhutan Army personnel and volunteers are assisting the business people of Chamkhar town rebuild their homes.

Unlike in the past, the houses will not be constructed close to each other. To reduce the risk of fire, the houses are also being built mostly with mud bricks. A new vegetable market and meat shops will be built separately.

Construction materials including sand, mud bricks, CGI sheets and timber are being provided free of cost.

Tag : bhutan,bhutan travel,druk air,bhutan trekking

Bhutan : Making movies young

12 July, 2009 - The videos are shaky and images zoom in and out of focus from time to time but the message is clear.

Youth and Video Games, Buried in Garbage, Teenagers in Love, People and Television and Life of a Taxi Driver were some of the themes of the eight short films made by members of the youth media club that were screened on July 9, coinciding with the Children and Youth Festival in Thimphu.

It was the outcome of a 10-day film training camp, where club members learnt how to use the medium as a means to tell stories that concerned them. Participants, working in teams, came up with their own themes and used flip cameras and computers to gather and edit material. Most of the films ran for ten minutes or less.

According to the Bhutan centre for media and democracy (BCMD), the main objective of making these short films is to foster discussion and debate on issues concerning the community. BCMD believes it will garner discussions on issues related to preserving culture, promotion of democracy and understanding of media as more than just entertainment.

The club is also an initiative of BCMD and the film training camp was carried out as a pilot effort at the Motithang higher secondary school in Thimphu. “We’re also discussing the possibilities of starting a similar club with the Thimphu royal college,” said Pek Dorji of the BCMD at the screening of the short films. “With the media clubs, we’re hoping to experiment with three different age groups.”

Most participants said they found the training camp to be knowledgeable and fun.

“The past two weeks were really enjoyable...the amount of encouragement and support we received has inspired me to continue with film making,” said art student Kesang Yuden, 16, of Motithang HSS.

“Since I want to take up journalism, I joined the club believing it would be geared towards print media, but I found out that it was all about film making,” said Pema Dema, 16, from the same school. “But it was so much fun. I enjoyed working in a team and talking to youth about issues that concerned me.”

Participants also said that they found film making very challenging. “Meeting deadlines and editing was difficult, because we had to familiarise ourselves with new computer software and programmes,” said Kesang.

The club is funded by BCMD and Bhutan Foundation in collaboration with the education ministry.

By Pema Choezom

http://www.kuenselonline.com/

Tag : bhutan,bhutan tourism,paro,bhutan king,druk air,thimphu

Bhutan : First retrofit in Thimphu

27 July, 2009 - It is not much of a building to look at. The floor and the walls facing the street have been torn down as if the entire structure is to be demolished.

But it is a work in progress towards, what engineers of the standard and quality control authority (SQCA) call, a prototype retrofit building that will be less vulnerable to earthquakes.

Retrofitting in buildings is normally done to strengthen the building, by adding new material and equipment.

The three-storied building near the SNS restaurant, above the archery ground in Changlimithang, is the first one in Bhutan to go for retrofitting, with support from SQCA. The modifications on this building, built 20 years ago, started from this April. It’s expected to be completed by next year.

The building-owner’s nephew, Thinley Palden, told Kuensel that a total retrofit is being done on the building. “We’re working on the foundation, strengthening the pillars and adding two more floors. It’s like building a new one altogether. Given the situation and the location, it’s better to retrofit rather than to demolish and rebuild.”

With this building, the SQCA is hoping to create awareness among other building-owners to promote retrofitting, as Bhutan is in seismic zone V, as per the Indian seismic zonal map, which is severe, said SQCA officials. Buildings built before 1997 do not have the seismic design concept incorporated in building construction.

A seismic designed building is built to resist the tremors of an earthquake. The seismic design concept requires all building drawings in urban areas to incorporate features, such as deeper foundations, more dense bindings around metal rods inside pillars, stronger beams and columns and the right mix of cement, sand and gravel.

Buildings in Bhutan mostly fall under two categories - reinforced cement concrete (RCC) and load bearing buildings. It is now mandatory for all new constructions in urban areas to incorporate ‘seismic design’ features.

Whether retrofitting is cost effective is not known, as of now. “It’s a bit early to comment on the cost. But studies done in India and Nepal show that it’s just 15 to 20 percent of the total cost of the building,” said the chief executive engineer of SQCA, Rinzin Namgyel, adding that it could be costlier in Bhutan as the material and labour are imported from India.

SQCA started in 2005 an earthquake risk management project, funded by UNDP. Phase I of the project began with preparatory assistance for studies to be carried out. Phase II focused on assessment of 15 buildings in Thimphu in 2007, of which two buildings had to be selected for retrofitting. The two buildings were from the NPPF colony. However, it did not happen, as the management wanted to demolish and build new ones instead.

Under the present phase III, funded by UNDP, with support from the government of Japan, SQCA carried out a rapid visual assessment of buildings in Samdrupjongkhar and Phuentsholing. The report is still in preparation.

Since the initiation of the project, SQCA made numerous announcements to provide free technical assistance in retrofitting, but response from house owners was poor, said officials.

The chief executive engineer said, “The present model building will be the only building and, in future, we won’t be able to do it because of the project deadline.”

Meanwhile, construction of a two-storied model earthquake resistance building will soon begin in the SQCA premises. The building, according to the chief executive engineer, will demonstrate earthquake resistance features to be incorporated in rural types of building.

By Kinga Dema

http://www.kuenselonline.com

Tag : bhutan,thimphu,paro bhutan,druk air

60,000 employees short-changed?

A rude shock of halved paid annual and casual leaves, reduced maternity leave and availability of provident fund and gratuity payment after only five years may hit around 60,000 employees in the private and corporate sectors (government owned too).

This is one of the main features of the draft section of the labour act being compiled by the ministry of labour and human resources, which may be completed towards the end of this year. Though the act was passed some details are being filled in.

Sources say that these employer-friendly regulations were included after hectic lobbying by a few powerful private sector companies in idea exchange sessions.

Ironically, many companies and government corporations, who had not asked for these tough regulations, may also have to go by the draft if the government agrees to it.

The draft rule states that 30 days of paid annual leave will become only 12 days, ten days of paid casual leave will become five and 10 days of sick leave will become five.

Pregnant mothers will now get around 1.5 months maternity leave, in place of the earlier three months leave, and she would get this leave for three births only.

Also, on the private sector complaint that employees were leaving companies for better offers, the draft law allows for companies to pay PF and gratuity only after five years of accumulation, as against the current one year. Even if an employee dies while in service, the minimal compensation of Nu 108, 000 will be subject to many checks like if the employee was following safety standards, for example.

On the employer-friendly regulations, the Director General of the labour ministry Pema Wangda said, “Since many private companies will be enforcing benefits like provident fund and paid leave for the first time, we need to protect them as well, otherwise it may become financially unviable.”

However, observers say that the measure intended to save costs for some private companies will backfire on employees of private companies and government corporations already receiving the benefits. A senior official in Bhutan Telecom said, “These measures, encouraged by some private companies, totally favour the employers and, though we may also save some money, the costs in terms of employee unrest, unattractive job package, attrition and massive loss in morale may greatly damage our company.” A Druk Air official said, “Just when we thought we solved the brain drain crisis after delicate negotiations, these laws will make matters worse, not only for pilots and engineers but the entire staff here.”

Pema Wangda clarified that companies and corporations were welcome to take the current rules as minimum standards and could be more generous if they chose.

However, a royal insurance corporation of Bhutan limited (RICB) official said, “Even if we wish to be more generous, our shareholders, who include private companies, may demand cuts in costs as per regulations if they’re unhappy with their returns.”

The Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry (BCCI) secretary, Phup Tshering, however, maintained, “Of what use are good labour laws if they can’t be implemented, so for enforcement to be effective the employers rights must be protected.”

Although the Labour Act was passed in February 2007, labour inspectors found that all corporations, both government and private, were still not following many of the Act’s defined regulations. These violations include no contracts between employer and employee, non submission of internal service rules to the ministry, probation of one year instead of six months and confusion on overtime payment. The corporations are Kuensel, Bhutan power corporation, Bhutan national bank, Tala hydroelectric project authority, BCCL, BFAL, STCBL, RICBL, Bhutan postal corporation, BDFCL and natural resources development corporation.

“We haven’t fined the corporations this time around but asked them to comply and, as soon as we get adequate resources, we’ll also check the private sector,” said Pema Wangda. The checks will start with bigger companies like Tashi, Singye and Lhaki.

The draft rules also allow for child labour between the ages of 12 to 17 limited to 29 professions in the hospitality and food sector, domestic help, baby sitting and light work like sewing, paper making and minor car repair. They will, however, not be allowed in 11 categories of hard labour in areas like construction, mining, cement, forestry, transport and etc.

One of the positive outcomes is the sexual harassment clause, which now has an additional fine of up to Nu 300,000 to be paid to the victim. This is in addition to a maximum sentence of one year and minimum of one month and a fine of Nu 300,000 to the court. An official said, “Any unwanted attention of a sexual nature through speech, writing, gesture and touch will fall under this category.”

The Act also allows the formation of workers associations but only in the company and no strikes and unions will be allowed, that would disturb the peace and security of the nation. With many people in Bhutan earning as low as Nu 900 a month, the minimum wage will be framed by a committee, that will look into affordability of the company, employee productivity, types of work and cost of living.

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