TCB plans to closely monitor existing tour operators before new ones are approved while applicants cry foul over the move:
In order to give itself breathing space, the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has temporarily suspended the endorsement of new tour operators- a mandatory requirement for obtaining a tour operator’s license from the Regional Trade and Industry Office (RTIO).
The TCB plans to closely monitor existing tour operators for proper office set-up and other requirements before new tour operators are approved.
According to the TCB spokesperson, DamchoRinzin, the move is to ensure that existing tour operators have offices with proper communication facilities to conduct daily business.
He said the TCB currently has about three applications awaiting endorsement while it receives multiple enquires daily for processing a license.
The new endorsements for issuance of license will resume from November this year. An endorsement from the TCB is mandatory as only then applications will be accepted by the RTIO for issuance of tour operators’ license.
However, the RTIO in Thimphu was unaware of the move by the TCB.
The RTIO Director, Dungtu, said the office hasn’t received any applications since last month and have not been notified about the move by the TCB.
“We will be issuing licenses only when the applicants have a go-ahead from the TCB,” he said.
Meanwhile, aspiring tour operators have cried foul over the move of the TCB calling it untimely and unplanned.
An applicant, Babul Subba, said TCB shouldn’t be suspending the endorsements at this time of the year which is a tourism season.
He said the peak season is around the corner and if applicants have to wait till November, they are going to miss out hugely.
Another aspiring tour operator, LobzangYeshey, said, “I thought of applying for a license but I was told TCB will not approve any Expression of Interest (EOI) for the timebeing so I will have to wait and watch.”
He said he will wait till November when the TCB resumes the endorsement process.
“I think the step taken by the TCB will come in its own way in achieving 100,000 tourists,” said an unnamed aspirant tour operator.
Records with the TCB show that there are currently 369 active tour operators in the country while the RTIO has issued licenses to some 862 tour operators so far.
Of the total licenses issued by the RTIO, 637 travel agents have renewed their licenses and 225 have not.
Observers said that most tour operators do not renew their licenses as the company would not have done any business during the year.
According to the RTIO Director, tour operators are not eligible to obtain visa permits and therefore cannot run a tour company if their licenses are not renewed yearly.
“One has to get an account to transfer money and to process visas. You cannot get the account without a tour operator’s license,” he said.
“Everything is systematic and interconnected with the online visa system,” he added.
The annual tour operator’s license renewal fee is Nu 12,000 and a penalty of Nu 2 a day is imposed for late renewals.
Bhutan received 64,028 tariff paying visitors last year, the highest number of tourist arrivals in a year depicting a growth of over 56.65% from the previous year. This year the TCB plans to have a minimum of 100,000 tourists.
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