<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en-gb" lang="en-gb"><head> <base href="/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"/> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"/> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow"/> <meta name="keywords" content="A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism, Bhutan, Ron Corben"/> <meta name="title" content="A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism"/> <meta name="author" content="Vitri"/> <meta name="description" content="Bhutan wants the tourist sector to play a larger role in national development. But expanding tourism poses challenges for the Kingdom – some fear accelerated growth will damage the country’s culture. "/> <meta name="generator" content="Joomla! 1.5 - Open Source Content Management"/> <title>A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism</title> <link href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2558&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism"/> <link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/favicon.ico" rel="shortcut icon" type="image/x-icon"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/components/com_jcomments/tpl/default/style.cssv=10" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/modules/mod_jflanguageselection/tmpl/mod_jflanguageselection.css" type="text/css"/> <script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/js/jcomments-v2.1.jsv=2"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/components/com_jcomments/libraries/joomlatune/ajax.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/mootools.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/media/system/js/caption.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <script src="/plugins/content/1pixelout/audio-player.js" type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <link type="text/css" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/ja_tabs.css" rel="stylesheet"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Bhutan wants the tourist sector to play a larger role in national development. But expanding tourism poses challenges for the Kingdom – some fear accelerated growth will damage the country’s culture. "/> <meta property="og:image" content="images/stories/demo/ac/bhutan_tourism_web_120310.jpg"/> <meta property="fb:admins" content=""/> <meta property="fb:app_id" content=""/> <meta property="og:title" content="A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism"/> <meta property="og:url" content="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="AsiaCalling"/> <meta property="og:locale" content="en_US"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/plugins/content/ja_tabs/themes/vauxite/style.css" type="text/css" media="screen"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/system.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/system/css/general.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/editor.css" type="text/css"/> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/typo.css" type="text/css"/> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/templates/ja_vauxite/js/ja.script.js"></script> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> var siteurl = '/'; var tmplurl = '/templates/ja_vauxite'; </script> <!-- Menu head --> <link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <script src="/templates/ja_vauxite/ja_menus/ja_scriptdlmenu/ja.scriptdlmenu.js" language="javascript" type="text/javascript"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/template.css" type="text/css"/> <link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/colors/red.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/> <!--[if lte IE 6]> <style type="text/css"> .clearfix {height: 1%;} img {border: none;} #ja-cpanel-tools{ filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(enabled=true, src=../images/ja-cpanel-switcher.png, sizingMethod=image); } </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gte IE 7.0]> <style type="text/css"> .clearfix {display: inline-block;} </style> <![endif]--> <!--[if gt IE 7]> <link href="/templates/ja_vauxite/css/ie8.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <![endif]--> <script type="text/javascript"> function resetall () { createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_color','red', 365); createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_layout','leftlayout', 365); createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_screen','wide', 365); createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_modfunc',0, 365); createCookie('ja-ordercolumn','-', 365); createCookie('ja_vauxite_ja_font',3, 365); window.location.reload(); } </script> </head> <body id="bd" class="leftlayout wide fs3"> <a name="Top" id="Top"></a> <ul class="accessibility"> <li><a href="/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourismlang=en" title="Skip to content">Skip to content</a></li> <li><a href="/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourismlang=en" title="Skip to main navigation">Skip to main navigation</a></li> <li><a href="/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourismlang=en" title="Skip to 1st column">Skip to 1st column</a></li> <li><a href="/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourismlang=en" title="Skip to 2nd column">Skip to 2nd column</a></li> </ul> <!-- BEGIN: HEADER --> <div id="ja-headerwrap"> <div id="ja-header" class="clearfix"> <h1 class="logo"> <a href="/index.php" title="AsiaCalling"><span>AsiaCalling</span></a> </h1> <div id="ja-search"> <div id="jflanguageselection"><div class="rawimages"><span><a href="/in/berita/negara-lain/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/in.gif" alt="Indonesian (ID)" title="Indonesian (ID)"/></a></span><span id="active_language"><a href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/en.gif" alt="English (United Kingdom)" title="English (United Kingdom)"/></a></span><span><a href="/bn/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/bn.gif" alt="Bengali(Bangladesh)" title="Bengali(Bangladesh)"/></a></span><span><a href="/km/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/km.gif" alt="Khmer (Cambodia)" title="Khmer (Cambodia)"/></a></span><span><a href="/ur/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism"><img src="/components/com_joomfish/images/flags/ur.gif" alt="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)" title="Urdu Pakistan (اردو)"/></a></span></div></div><!--Joom!fish V2.0.2 ()--> <!-- © 2003-2009 Think Network, released under the GPL. --> <!-- More information: at http://www.joomfish.net --> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END: HEADER --> <!-- BEGIN: MAIN NAVIGATION --> <div id="ja-mainnavwrap"> <div id="ja-mainnav" class="clearfix"> <div id="jasdl-mainnav"><ul><li id="jasdl-mainnav248"><a href="/" class="menu-item0 first-item" id="menu248" title="Home"><span class="menu-title">Home</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav202"><a href="/en/news" class="menu-item1 active" id="menu202" title="News"><span class="menu-title">News</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav359"><a href="/en/special-reports" class="menu-item2" id="menu359" title="Special Reports"><span class="menu-title">Special Reports</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav181"><a href="/en/listen" class="menu-item3" id="menu181" title="Listen"><span class="menu-title">Listen</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav176"><a href="/en/tune-in" class="menu-item4" id="menu176" title="Tune In"><span class="menu-title">Tune In</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav206"><a href="/en/links" class="menu-item5" id="menu206" title="Links"><span class="menu-title">Links</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav166"><a href="/en/about-us" class="menu-item6" id="menu166" title="About Us"><span class="menu-title">About Us</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav471"><a href="/en/learn-english" class="menu-item7" id="menu471" title="Learn English"><span class="menu-title">Learn English</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav390"><a href="/en/archives" class="menu-item8" id="menu390" title="Archives"><span class="menu-title">Archives</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-mainnav492"><a href="/en/asia-forum" class="menu-item9 last-item" id="menu492" title="Asia Calling Forum"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Forum</span></a></li></ul></div> <script type="text/javascript"> var jasdl_activemenu = new Array(202,388); </script> </div> </div> <div id="ja-subnavwrap"> <div id="ja-subnav" class="clearfix"> <div id="jasdl-subnav"><ul id="jasdl-subnav202"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem263"><a href="/en/news/indonesia" class=" first-item" id="menu263" title="Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem445"><a href="/en/news/timor-leste" id="menu445" title="Timor Leste"><span class="menu-title">Timor Leste</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem443"><a href="/en/news/north-korea" id="menu443" title="North Korea"><span class="menu-title">North Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem442"><a href="/en/news/japan" id="menu442" title="Japan"><span class="menu-title">Japan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem441"><a href="/en/news/nepal" id="menu441" title="Nepal"><span class="menu-title">Nepal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem436"><a href="/en/news/malaysia" id="menu436" title="Malaysia"><span class="menu-title">Malaysia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem382"><a href="/en/news/thailand" id="menu382" title="Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem380"><a href="/en/news/philippines" id="menu380" title="Philippines"><span class="menu-title">Philippines</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem384"><a href="/en/news/vietnam" id="menu384" title="Vietnam"><span class="menu-title">Vietnam</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem385"><a href="/en/news/cambodia" id="menu385" title="Cambodia"><span class="menu-title">Cambodia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem204"><a href="/en/news/china" id="menu204" title="China"><span class="menu-title">China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem378"><a href="/en/news/south-korea" id="menu378" title="South Korea"><span class="menu-title">South Korea</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem372"><a href="/en/news/sri-lanka" id="menu372" title="Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem379"><a href="/en/news/afghanistan" id="menu379" title="Afghanistan"><span class="menu-title">Afghanistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem386"><a href="/en/news/pakistan" id="menu386" title="Pakistan"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem377"><a href="/en/news/bangladesh" id="menu377" title="Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem374"><a href="/en/news/india" id="menu374" title="India"><span class="menu-title">India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem373"><a href="/en/news/burma" id="menu373" title="Burma"><span class="menu-title">Burma</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem387"><a href="/en/news/australia" id="menu387" title="Australia"><span class="menu-title">Australia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem420"><a href="/en/news/laos" id="menu420" title="Laos"><span class="menu-title">Laos</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem388"><a href="/en/news/others" class=" active" id="menu388" title="Others"><span class="menu-title">Others</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem485"><a href="/en/news/quiz" id="menu485" title="Quiz"><span class="menu-title">Quiz</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem512"><a href="/en/news/asia-calling-video" class=" last-item" id="menu512" title="Asia Calling Video"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling Video</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav359"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem500"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-migrant-workers" class=" first-item" id="menu500" title="Indonesia Migrant Workers"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Migrant Workers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem499"><a href="/en/special-reports/sex-workers-stories-from-across-asia" id="menu499" title="Sex workers stories from across asia"><span class="menu-title">Sex workers stories from across asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem498"><a href="/en/special-reports/indian-music-rocks-the-world" id="menu498" title="Indian music rocks the world"><span class="menu-title">Indian music rocks the world</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem491"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-circle-of-violence-in-khasmir" id="menu491" title="A Circle of Violence in Khasmir"><span class="menu-title">A Circle of Violence in Khasmir</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem490"><a href="/en/special-reports/a-rare-glimpse-inside-bangladesh-tea-estates" id="menu490" title="A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates"><span class="menu-title">A Rare Glimpse Inside Bangladesh Tea Estates</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem488"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-burma-ahead-of-the-election" id="menu488" title="Inside Burma Ahead of the Election"><span class="menu-title">Inside Burma Ahead of the Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem486"><a href="/en/special-reports/private-security-a-booming-industry-in-asia" id="menu486" title="Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Private Security a Booming Industry in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem484"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-ties-with-china" id="menu484" title="North Korea’s ties with China"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s ties with China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem483"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-in-kerala-india" id="menu483" title="Life in Kerala India"><span class="menu-title">Life in Kerala India</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem482"><a href="/en/special-reports/dying-for-music-in-pakistans-frontier-province" id="menu482" title="Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province"><span class="menu-title">Dying for Music in Pakistan’s Frontier Province</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem481"><a href="/en/special-reports/desperate-nurses-in-bangladesh" id="menu481" title="Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh"><span class="menu-title">Desperate Nurses in Bangladesh</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem480"><a href="/en/special-reports/nepal-feels-the-heat-of-climate-change" id="menu480" title="Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change"><span class="menu-title">Nepal feels the heat of Climate Change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem479"><a href="/en/special-reports/shangrila-made-in-china" id="menu479" title="Shangrila Made in China"><span class="menu-title">Shangrila Made in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem478"><a href="/en/special-reports/burmas-controversial-election" id="menu478" title="Burma’s Controversial Election"><span class="menu-title">Burma’s Controversial Election</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem477"><a href="/en/special-reports/after-the-war-the-hard-work-begins-in-sri-lanka" id="menu477" title="After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka"><span class="menu-title">After the war the hard work begins in Sri Lanka</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem458"><a href="/en/special-reports/bangladesh-battles-its-past-and-future" id="menu458" title="Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future"><span class="menu-title">Bangladesh Battles its Past and Future</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem455"><a href="/en/special-reports/inside-laos-the-battery-of-south-east-asia-" id="menu455" title="Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia"><span class="menu-title">Inside Laos ‘the battery’ of South East Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem453"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-amazon-of-the-sea-under-threat" id="menu453" title="The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat"><span class="menu-title">The Amazon of the Sea Under Threat</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem454"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesia-citarum-river" id="menu454" title="Indonesia Citarum River"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia Citarum River</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem450"><a href="/en/special-reports/last-tango-in-tokyo-for-japanese-migrants" id="menu450" title="Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants"><span class="menu-title">Last Tango in Tokyo for Japanese Migrants</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem449"><a href="/en/special-reports/on-vietnams-coast-bigger-is-betteror-is-it" id="menu449" title="On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?"><span class="menu-title">On Vietnam’s coast, bigger is better...or is it?</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem448"><a href="/en/special-reports/kashmirs-cultural-revival-" id="menu448" title="Kashmir’s Cultural Revival"><span class="menu-title">Kashmir’s Cultural Revival</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem447"><a href="/en/special-reports/rohingya-journey" id="menu447" title="Rohingya Journey"><span class="menu-title">Rohingya Journey</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem446"><a href="/en/special-reports/dreamtime-wisdom-and-modern-vision-of-aboriginal" id="menu446" title="Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal"><span class="menu-title">Dreamtime Wisdom and Modern Vision of Aboriginal</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem431"><a href="/en/special-reports/living-with-nature" id="menu431" title="Living with nature"><span class="menu-title">Living with nature</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem430"><a href="/en/special-reports/education-in-south-thailand-engulfed-in-fear" id="menu430" title="Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear"><span class="menu-title">Education in South Thailand Engulfed in Fear</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem429"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threat-the-impact-of-climate-change" id="menu429" title="Earth under threat: the impact of climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat: the impact of climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem428"><a href="/en/special-reports/earth-under-threatsolutions-to-slow-climate-change" id="menu428" title="Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change"><span class="menu-title">Earth under threat:solutions to slow climate change</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem427"><a href="/en/special-reports/mindanao-muddle-insight-into-the-conflict" id="menu427" title="Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict"><span class="menu-title">Mindanao Muddle : Insight into the conflict</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem426"><a href="/en/special-reports/changing-cambodia-the-winners-and-losers" id="menu426" title="Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers"><span class="menu-title">Changing Cambodia: The Winners and Losers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem432"><a href="/en/special-reports/inspiring-women" id="menu432" title="Inspiring Women"><span class="menu-title">Inspiring Women</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem424"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-unsung-heros-of-burmas-cyclone-relief-effort" id="menu424" title="The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort"><span class="menu-title">The unsung heros of Burma's cyclone relief effort</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem425"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-rising-price-of-food-across-asia-what-has-gone-wrong" id="menu425" title="The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong"><span class="menu-title">The Rising Price of Food Across Asia: What Has Gone Wrong</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem421"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-frontline-victims-of-the-war-on-terror" id="menu421" title="The frontline victims of the war on terror"><span class="menu-title">The frontline victims of the war on terror</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem422"><a href="/en/special-reports/the-murky-world-of-coal-mining-in-china" id="menu422" title="The murky world of coal mining in China"><span class="menu-title">The murky world of coal mining in China</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem423"><a href="/en/special-reports/life-on-the-border-exile-burmese-in-thailand" id="menu423" title="Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand"><span class="menu-title">Life on the Border: Exile Burmese in Thailand</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem501"><a href="/en/special-reports/indonesias-mega-food-estate" id="menu501" title="Indonesia's Mega Food Estate"><span class="menu-title">Indonesia's Mega Food Estate</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem502"><a href="/en/special-reports/north-koreas-heir-apparent" id="menu502" title="North Korea’s Heir apparent"><span class="menu-title">North Korea’s Heir apparent</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem504"><a href="/en/special-reports/pakistan-eunuchs-finally-recognized-as-citizens" class=" last-item" id="menu504" title="Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens"><span class="menu-title">Pakistan Eunuchs finally recognized as citizens</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav181"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem513"><a href="/en/listen/january-december-2012" class=" first-item" id="menu513" title="January - December 2012"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2012</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem496"><a href="/en/listen/january-december-2011" id="menu496" title="January - December 2011"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2011</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem452"><a href="/en/listen/january-september-2010" id="menu452" title="January - December 2010"><span class="menu-title">January - December 2010</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem451"><a href="/en/listen/oktober-desember-2009" id="menu451" title="Oktober - Desember 2009"><span class="menu-title">Oktober - Desember 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem444"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2009" id="menu444" title="July - September 2009"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem439"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2009" id="menu439" title="April - June 2009"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem396"><a href="/en/listen/podcast" id="menu396" title="January - March 2009"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2009</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem404"><a href="/en/listen/oktober-desember-2008" id="menu404" title="October - December 2008"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem405"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2008" id="menu405" title="July - September 2008"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem406"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2008" id="menu406" title="April - June 2008"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem407"><a href="/en/listen/january-march-2008" id="menu407" title="January - March 2008"><span class="menu-title">January - March 2008</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem408"><a href="/en/listen/october-december-2007" id="menu408" title="October - December 2007"><span class="menu-title">October - December 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem412"><a href="/en/listen/july-september-2007" id="menu412" title="July - September 2007"><span class="menu-title">July - September 2007</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem413"><a href="/en/listen/april-june-2007" class=" last-item" id="menu413" title="April - June 2007"><span class="menu-title">April - June 2007</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav176"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem177"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-asia" class=" first-item" id="menu177" title="Stations in Asia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Asia</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem178"><a href="/en/tune-in/stations-in-indonesia" class=" last-item" id="menu178" title="Stations in Indonesia"><span class="menu-title">Stations in Indonesia</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav166"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem167"><a href="/en/about-us/asia-calling-a-kbr68h" class=" first-item" id="menu167" title="Asia Calling & KBR68H"><span class="menu-title">Asia Calling & KBR68H</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem168"><a href="/en/about-us/producers" id="menu168" title="Producers"><span class="menu-title">Producers</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem169"><a href="/en/about-us/correspondents" id="menu169" title="Correspondents"><span class="menu-title">Correspondents</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem370"><a href="/en/about-us/media-development" id="menu370" title="Media Development"><span class="menu-title">Media Development</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem495"><a href="/en/about-us/partner-station" id="menu495" title="Regional Partners"><span class="menu-title">Regional Partners</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem506"><a href="/en/about-us/media-partner" class=" last-item" id="menu506" title="Media Partner"><span class="menu-title">Media Partner</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav471"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem472"><a href="/en/learn-english/learn-now" class=" first-item" id="menu472" title="Learn Now!"><span class="menu-title">Learn Now!</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem505"><a href="/en/learn-english/asia-music" id="menu505" title="Asia Music"><span class="menu-title">Asia Music</span></a></li><li id="jasdl-subnavitem497"><a href="http://www.radioforeducation.org/" target="_blank" class=" last-item" id="menu497" title="Blog: radioforeducation.org"><span class="menu-title">Blog: radioforeducation.org</span></a></li></ul><ul id="jasdl-subnav492"><li id="jasdl-subnavitem493"><a href="/en/asia-forum/asia-forum-2010" class=" first-item" id="menu493" title="Asia Forum 2010"><span class="menu-title">Asia Forum 2010</span></a></li></ul></div></div> </div> <!-- END: MAIN NAVIGATION --> <div id="ja-containerwrap-m" class="clearfix"> <div id="ja-container" class="clearfix"> <!-- BEGIN: CONTENT --> <div id="ja-content"> <div id="ja-current-content"> <div class="ja-wrap-center"><div class="ja-wrap-top"><div class="ja-wrap-bot"> <div id="ja-pathway"> <span class="breadcrumbs pathway"> <a href="/" class="pathway">Home</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news" class="pathway">News</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> <a href="/en/news/others" class="pathway">Others</a> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/arrow.png" alt=""/> A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism</span> </div> <h2 class="contentheading"> A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism </h2> <div class="article-toolswrap"> <div class="article-tools clearfix"> <div class="article-meta"> <span class="createdate"> Saturday, 10 March 2012 13:16 </span> <span class="createby"> Ron Corben </span> </div> <div class="buttonheading"> <span> <a href="/en/component/mailto/tmpl=component&link=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5hc2lhY2FsbGluZy5vcmcvZW4vbmV3cy9vdGhlcnMvMjU1OC1hLXB1cnN1aXQtb2YtaGFwcGluZXNzLWluLWJodXRhbi10b3VyaXNt" title="E-mail" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','width=400,height=350,menubar=yes,resizable=yes'); return false;"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/emailButton.png" alt="E-mail"/></a> </span> <span> <a href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=" title="Print" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/printButton.png" alt="Print"/></a> </span> <span> <a href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism?format=pdf" title="PDF" onclick="window.open(this.href,'win2','status=no,toolbar=no,scrollbars=yes,titlebar=no,menubar=no,resizable=yes,width=640,height=480,directories=no,location=no'); return false;" rel="nofollow"><img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/pdf_button.png" alt="PDF"/></a> </span> </div> </div> </div> <div class="article-content"> <div style="height:40px;"><div id="fb-root"></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><fb:like href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism" layout="button_count" show_faces="true" send="true" width="" action="like" font="arial" colorscheme="light"></fb:like> </div><div style="float:right;margin:10px;"><a name="fb_share" type="button_count" share_url="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.phpu=/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism&t=A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism">Share</a><script src="http://static.ak.fbcdn.net/connect.php/js/FB.Share" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><div><a href="http://twitter.com/share" class="twitter-share-button" data-url="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism" data-text="A Pursuit of Happiness in Bhutan Tourism" data-count="horizontal">Tweet</a></div></div><div style="float:left;margin:10px;"><script type="text/javascript" src="http://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js"> {lang: 'en-US'} </script><g:plusone size="medium" href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism" count="1"></g:plusone></div></div><p/><strong><img src="/images/stories/demo/ac/bhutan_tourism_web_120310.jpg" title="Photo: R. Corben" class="caption" align="left"/>Bhutan wants the tourist sector to play a larger role in national development. </strong><br/> <br/><strong>But expanding tourism poses challenges for the Kingdom – some fear accelerated growth will damage the country’s culture.</strong><br/> <br/><strong/>Ron Corben has this report from the Kingdom – known best for measuring national development with its Gross National Happiness index. </strong><br/> <br/>Foreign guests are welcomed in Bhutan’s capital Thimphu, by traditional music and song under bright blue chilly skies of late winter.<br/> <br/>Bhutan is emerging as a popular destination in a world hungry for new and exotic destinations. <br/> <br/>The Kingdom with a population of 700,000 people is sandwiched between Asia’s giants -- China and India. <br/> <br/>Over the past four decades tourism has followed a policy of “high value, low volume” visitors. <br/> <br/>A daily all encompassing tariff is set at $250 for each traveller. The aim is purposely to limit traveller numbers to the Kingdom, but still earn significant foreign exchange from them.<br/> <br/>Tshering Tobgay is a resort owner in Paro, the second most popular destination in Bhutan.<br/> <br/>He says the policy has avoided mass tourism’s excesses. <br/> <br/>“The government is taking a very good initiative to promote tourism in a way that we don’t want a lot of people in one go. So we focus on high value and low volume. It’s a very good concept. This is a small country, we don’t [want] a lot of tourism to come in and spoil our culture and heritage likewise [sic] in other countries.”<br/> <br/>In 1974 Bhutan opened its doors for the first time to the outside world, welcoming less than 300 visitors to this isolated Kingdom. <br/> <br/>Ten years later, tourism contributed over 2 million US dollars in annual revenue.<br/> <br/>Now the government hopes to boost arrivals to 100,000 by 2013.<br/> <br/>Kesang Wangdi, Director General of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, says tourism will play a greater role in Bhutan’s development.<br/> <br/>“Tourism occupies one of the key priorities and attention of the government because of its potential to contribute towards a more equitable socio-economic development in terms of alleviation of poverty issues and employment generation.”<br/> <br/>Although Bhutan’s GDP is among the highest in South Asia, one-third of the population is poor. <br/> <br/>Wangdi says tourism can support local community development, by supporting everyone ranging from taxi drivers to owners of the horses needed for trekking routes. But the strategy has also raised concerns.<br/> <br/>The industry is the second foreign exchange earnings to hydro electricity sales to India.<br/><br/>Thuji Dorji Nadik, also from the Council, says tourism in the country is at a crossroad <br/><br/>“With the exception of hydropower we don’t have any other viable industry. So then tourism, in my view, is getting a lot of attention which is necessary but we also have to be careful that too much expectation is not built up on tourism that it will solve all the issues.” <br/> <br/>Bhutan’s latest marketing slogan is “happiness is a place”. <br/><br/>The capital Thimphu and western city of Paro are the most important centres for tourism. A sacred monastery to Buddhist overlooking the Paro valley is a must-see destination. <br/> <br/>Rick Antonson, president of Tourism Vancouver, says Bhutan faces a challenge of developing a clear place in global tourism. <br/> <br/> “There is almost a ‘Bhutan myth’ that is as much perception as it is reality. Bhutan will need to decide what is its reality? What is the destination for visitors that it wants to be, and then work very hard to stay true to that? A significant challenge for Bhutan will be the pressure from mainstream tourism investors and developers [who] would willing be mere profiteers from the Bhutan image and in the course of five years could tarnish the reputation.”<br/> <br/>With tourism demand increasing national carrier DrukAir recently purchased an additional aircraft, adding to a fleet of six. It has also launched domestic services.<br/> <br/>But additional infrastructure in Bhutan is necessary to meet such demand, says resort manager Julie Beattie.<br/> <br/> “There’s a lot of infrastructure that needs to be built to support 100,000 coming in. You’ve got to look at that from airport facilities, then hotels. The thing is to make sure that the infrastructure is not all centered on certain places – it actually is diffused across the Kingdom.”<br/> <br/>Already worrying signs are emerging of tourism’s intrusion into Bhutan’s pristine environment, which has 72 percent under forest cover. <br/> <br/>Plastic bottles and other non-biodegradable waste in streams and near trekking tracks have already triggered traveller criticism, says economics minister, Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk.<br/> <br/> “We feel now – what began at this crossroads – many tourists told us that ‘if we don’t take care of the trash on the trekking routes or the waste in the cities – I don’t want to spend 250 dollars to see this rubbish’. So our tourism industry is to be now totally dependent on how we manage and how we do the things correctly.” <br/> <br/>Buddhist prayer flags flutter violently at Che Li La Pass, almost 4,000 meters above the Paro Valley. <br/> <br/>The air is fresh and cold, the scenery is inspiring with snow-capped mountains in the distance. <br/> <br/>Bhutan Tourism Council guide, Phuntsho Gyeltshen, says preserving Bhutan’s culture is vital to the industry’s future.<br/> <br/> “When people hear about Bhutan they relate to high mountains, the culture, and the tradition. So basically it’s important to preserve what we have right now. Bhutan is still one of those places we probably dream or wish to see at some point in our lives you know. So I think this could be one of those destinations one should try and visit once in their life time.”</p><div style="border-top-style:solid;border-top-width:0px;padding:10px;text-align:center;"><fb:comments href="/en/news/others/2558-a-pursuit-of-happiness-in-bhutan-tourism" num_posts="10" width="550" colorscheme="light"></fb:comments></div></div> <span class="article_separator"> </span> <script type="text/javascript"> var jcomments=new JComments(2558, 'com_content','index.php?option=com_jcomments&tmpl=component&lang='); jcomments.setList('comments-list'); </script> <div id="jc"> <div id="comments"><div class="comments-list" id="comments-list-0"></div> </div> <h4>Add comment</h4> <a id="addcomments" href="#addcomments"></a> <form id="comments-form" name="comments-form" action="javascript:void(null);"> <div class="comments-policy">Asia Calling House Rules for Comments:<br/>We reserve the right to fail messages that:<br/>· Are likely to provoke, attack or offend others<br/>· Are racist, homophobic or sexists or otherwise objectionable<br/>· Contain swear words or other language likely to offend<br/>· Break the law or encourage illegal behavior<br/>· Include contact details including number or email address<br/>· Are considered to be advertising or promoting a product or SPAM<br/>· Are considered off-topic</div> <p> <input id="comments-form-name" type="text" name="name" value="" maxlength="20" size="22" tabindex="1"/> <label for="comments-form-name">Name (required)</label> </p> <p> <input id="comments-form-email" type="text" name="email" value="" size="22" tabindex="2"/> <label for="comments-form-email">E-mail (required)</label> </p> <p> <input id="comments-form-homepage" type="text" name="homepage" value="" size="22" tabindex="3"/> <label for="comments-form-homepage">Website</label> </p> <p> <textarea id="comments-form-comment" name="comment" cols="65" rows="8" tabindex="5"></textarea> </p> <p> <input class="checkbox" id="comments-form-subscribe" type="checkbox" name="subscribe" value="1" tabindex="5"/> <label for="comments-form-subscribe">Notify me of follow-up comments</label><br/> </p> <p> <img class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');" id="comments-form-captcha-image" name="captcha-image" src="/index.phpoption=com_jcomments&task=captcha&tmpl=component&ac=15800" width="120" height="60" alt="Security code"/><br/> <span class="captcha" onclick="jcomments.clear('captcha');">Refresh</span><br/> <input class="captcha" id="comments-form-captcha" type="text" name="captcha-refid" value="" size="5" tabindex="6"/><br/> </p> <div id="comments-form-buttons"> <div class="btn" id="comments-form-send"><div><a href="#" tabindex="7" onclick="jcomments.saveComment();return false;" title="Send (Ctrl+Enter)">Send</a></div></div> <div class="btn" id="comments-form-cancel" style="display:none;"><div><a href="#" tabindex="8" onclick="return false;" title="Cancel">Cancel</a></div></div> <div style="clear:both;"></div> </div> <input type="hidden" name="object_id" value="2558"/> <input type="hidden" name="object_group" value="com_content"/> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> function JCommentsInitializeForm() { var jcEditor = new JCommentsEditor('comments-form-comment', true); jcEditor.addButton('b','Bold','Enter text'); jcEditor.addButton('i','Italic','Enter text'); jcEditor.addButton('u','Underlined','Enter text'); jcEditor.addButton('s','Striked','Enter text'); jcEditor.addButton('img','Image','Enter full URL to the image'); jcEditor.addButton('url','Link','Enter full URL'); jcEditor.addButton('quote','Quote','Enter text to quote'); jcEditor.initSmiles('/components/com_jcomments/images/smiles'); jcEditor.addSmile(':D','laugh.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':lol:','lol.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':-)','smile.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(';-)','wink.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile('8)','cool.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':-|','normal.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':-*','whistling.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':oops:','redface.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':sad:','sad.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':cry:','cry.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':o','surprised.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':-?','confused.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':-x','sick.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':eek:','shocked.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':zzz','sleeping.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':P','tongue.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':roll:','rolleyes.gif'); jcEditor.addSmile(':sigh:','unsure.gif'); jcEditor.addCounter(1000, '', ' symbols left', 'counter'); jcomments.setForm(new JCommentsForm('comments-form', jcEditor)); } setTimeout(JCommentsInitializeForm, 100); </script> <div id="comments-footer" align="center"><a href="http://www.joomlatune.com/" title="JComments" target="_blank">JComments</a></div> <script type="text/javascript"> jcomments.setAntiCache(1,0,0); </script> </div> </div></div></div> <!-- BEGIN: JAZIN --> <!-- END: JAZIN --> </div> </div> <!-- END: CONTENT --> <!-- BEGIN: COLUMNS --> <div id="ja-colwrap"> <!-- BEGIN: MASSCOL --> <div id="ja-colmass" class="clearfix"> <div class="module_blank"> <div> <div> <div> <a href="/en/component/jcomments/task=rss&object_id=2558&object_group=com_content&tmpl=component"> <img src="/templates/ja_vauxite/images/livemarks.png" alt="feed-image"/> <span>Asia Calling</span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="module_blank"> <div> <div> <div> <div align="center"><a target="_blank" title="Podcast" href="/en/component/podcast/view=feed&format=raw"><img src="/images/stories/subscribe-podcast_logo.png" height="88" width="106"/></a> <a target="_blank" title="Twitter Asia Calling" href="http://twitter.com/#!/asiacalling"><img src="/images/stories/twitter_followus.png" height="86" width="108"/></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="module_blank"> <div> <div> <div> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="/en/news/quiz"><img src="/images/stories/quiz-icon.gif" border="0"/></a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="module"> <div> <div> <div> <div class="ja-tabswrap vauxite" style="width:100%;"> <div id="myTab-980010787" class="container"> <div class="ja-tabs-title-top" style="height:30px;"> <ul class="ja-tabs-title"><li title="2220"><h3><span>This week on Asia Calling</span></h3></li></ul> </div> <div class="ja-tab-panels-top"><div class="ja-tab-content"> <div class="ja-tab-subcontent"><table height="106" border="0" width="314"> <tbody> <tr> <td style="text-align: justify;"> <p><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080;"><strong> </strong></span></span><span style="color: #000080;"><strong></strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>The rise of Burmese young bloods:</strong></span></span> Burma’s political change has opened up a new chance to campaign for opposition party the National League of Democracy. The NLD boycotted the 2010 election – but now it’s ready for the by-elect next month. Traditionally only family dynasties who have been involved in politics for generations usually stand for election. But now Burma has a whole new generation of politicians doing it for themselves. Nay Thwin has this report.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #000080;"><strong>A pursuit of happiness in Bhutan tourism:</strong></span></span> Bhutan wants the tourist sector to play a larger role in national development. But expanding tourism poses challenges for the Kingdom – some fear accelerated growth will damage the country’s culture. Ron Corben has the report from the Kingdom popular for its Gross National Happiness for the people.</span></p> <table height="1" border="0" width="304"> <tbody> <tr> <td class="standardtext" valign="top"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;" align="justify"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>These stories and much more this week </strong></span></p> <div align="center"><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>on Asia Calling: </strong></span></div> <div align="center"> <h4><span style="color: #800000; font-size: 8pt;"><strong>Your Window on Asia </strong></span></h4> </div> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p style="text-align: justify;" class="MsoNormal"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:PunctuationKerning /> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas /> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables /> <w:SnapToGridInCell /> <w:WrapTextWithPunct /> <w:UseAsianBreakRules /> <w:DontGrowAutofit /> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 90.0pt 72.0pt 90.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> <!--[if gte mso 10]> <![endif]--></p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </div> </div></div> </div> </div><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8"> window.addEvent("load", init); function init() { myTabs1 = new JATabs("myTab-980010787", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false}); } //new JATabs("myTab-980010787", {animType:'animNone',style:'vauxite',position:'top',width:'100%',height:'auto',mouseType:'click',duration:1000,catid:116,useAjax:false,numberTabs:0,skipAnim:false}); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="module_blank"> <div> <div> <div> <div align="center"> <div style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="/en/learn-english/asia-music"><img src="/images/stories/asia-music.gif"/></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> <div style="text-align: center;"></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <!-- END: MASSCOL --> <div id="ja-cols" class="clearfix"> </div> </div><br/> <!-- END: COLUMNS --> </div></div> <!-- BEGIN: FOOTER --> <div id="ja-footerwrap" class="clearfix"> <div id="ja-footer"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ccffff;">Asia Calling owns all right, title and interest, including the copyright(s), and has the exclusive perpetual worldwide right to use, in whole or in part, and in all manner and media, all material provided to Asia Calling by its Correspondents, with no further obligation to the Correspondent. <br/></span></span></p> </div> </div> <!-- END: FOOTER --> <script type="text/javascript"> var gaJsHost = (("https:" == document.location.protocol) ? "https://ssl./" : "20120311112328/http://www./"); document.write(unescape("%3Cscript src='" + gaJsHost + "google-analytics.com/ga.js' type='text/javascript'%3E%3C/script%3E")); </script> <script type="text/javascript"> try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker("UA-18317669-1"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}</script> </body> </html>