Two German tourists were deported from Paro Airport on March 6 when it was found that they entered with forged visa. The tourists who came for a relaxing vacation to Bhutan had to face this unfortunate experience because of their tour agent. This is the second case of visa forgery. This is a big blow to the reputation and image of Bhutanese tourism industry, which is one of the biggest provider of business and employment in the country besides being one of the highest revenue generator for the country.
We at Bhutan Crown Adventure condemn this act of forgery and feel deeply sorry for the two germans. This is a lesson for the tour operators like us and also to the potential tourists. We hope the case is seriously dealt with and no such cases arise in the future.
Following is the News Piece from the Kuensel:
Tour licence cancelled over visa forgery
Apart from that, the tour operator was fined Nu 20,000Immigration: Following the deportation of two German tourists who had flown into the country with forged visas on March 6, tourism council officials cancelled licenses of the tour operator through which they had come.The German tourists had flown into Paro airport from Kathmandu, Nepal through the Himalayan Kingdom Tours for a weeklong visit. However, after immigration officials at the airport found that their visas were forged, the tourists were deported the next day.In line with the immigration Act, the tour operator was also fined Nu 20,000.All visas are applied online through visa online system introduced in 2009 to reduce administrative burden.Tourism council officials, after receiving the minimum daily tariff of USD 250 during the peak season and USD 200 during lean ones from each tourists, endorse the visa following which, immigration officials issue them.Concerned tour operators are sent a copy of the visa and reflected in the system.The visa is then endorsed on a visitor’s passport at the port of entry.Calling it an unfortunate event, the owner of the tour company in question said he was out of station at the time of the incident.The proprietor said a friend informed him of his client’s visit on March 4 via email.March 5, he said was declared holiday because that was the first day of the snowfall of the year and his staff had applied for his two clients’ visas the next day.“I was told my staff had just ‘entered’ the names of the visitors so they could board the flight from Nepal, while in the meantime, their visas were being applied for,” he said.On March 6, he said tourism council officials endorsed the visa at 9.30am.“However, when my staff went to immigration officials, their visas were denied because the tourists had already boarded the plane,” he said, adding that as a reputed tourism company, they had no intentions to bring in tourists illegally.“If that was the case, we wouldn’t have applied for their visas in the first place,” he said. “Immigration officials could’ve approved the visas before the flight landed. There was still time.”The same tourists tried to come through another tour operator but were denied entry. They had to wait for six months.This is the second visa forgery case.Last April, three tourists – two Chinese and one from Switzerland – were deported after it was found their visas were forged.The tourists had flown in from Nepal to be hosted by Bhutan Village tours and treks. An investigation ensued and tourism council officials suspended the operator’s license, who was later declared innocent, as immigration officials could not prove the charges.Such cases, tour operators said concerned the national security and should be taken seriously. They also pointed out the loopholes in the existing laws that needed revision.“It becomes a bad experience for tourists and affects the overall tourism industry,” a tour operator said.The immigration Act states that a person who enters the country illegally would be sent back to the country from where he or she boarded an aircraft or vehicle after imposing Nu 10,000 penalty.No separate provision was stipulated against tour operators forging a visa.“They can get away paying Nu 10,000 and cancellation of license,” a tour operator said. “He or she is not liable for forgery although it’s an offense of misdemeanor or a felony of second degree.”A tour operator, who requested anonymity, said despite the cancellation of license, they could apply for a new license under a different name, like any other business.Immigration officials said in keeping with their Act, they could only impose the prescribed penalty and leave it to TCB to act further.Tourism council officials, said they could only take administrative action.“Cancellation of license is the most severe form of penalty that has already been executed,” a tourism council spokesperson said.The lapse, the spokesperson said was entirely that of the tour operator’s.“It’s a tour operator’s responsibility to ensure their guests have visas before their arrival in Bhutan,” he said.Some tour operators also questioned how tourists with forged visas could board the flight.Drukair officials said they have made it mandatory for all tourists to produce a PDF copy of the visa when they check-in.It was not possible, Druk Air officials said for them to check every tourist for visas.“Only when tourists don’t produce the copy of their visas, we check online.”Meanwhile, some tour operators also highlighted the need to control the number of tour operators.Today the country has more than 1,300 tour operators.By Kinga Dema | Thimphu
Tour licence cancelled over visa forgery
Apart from that, the tour operator was fined Nu 20,000Immigration: Following the deportation of two German tourists who had flown into the country with forged visas on March 6, tourism council officials cancelled licenses of the tour operator through which they had come.The German tourists had flown into Paro airport from Kathmandu, Nepal through the Himalayan Kingdom Tours for a weeklong visit. However, after immigration officials at the airport found that their visas were forged, the tourists were deported the next day.In line with the immigration Act, the tour operator was also fined Nu 20,000.All visas are applied online through visa online system introduced in 2009 to reduce administrative burden.Tourism council officials, after receiving the minimum daily tariff of USD 250 during the peak season and USD 200 during lean ones from each tourists, endorse the visa following which, immigration officials issue them.Concerned tour operators are sent a copy of the visa and reflected in the system.The visa is then endorsed on a visitor’s passport at the port of entry.Calling it an unfortunate event, the owner of the tour company in question said he was out of station at the time of the incident.The proprietor said a friend informed him of his client’s visit on March 4 via email.March 5, he said was declared holiday because that was the first day of the snowfall of the year and his staff had applied for his two clients’ visas the next day.“I was told my staff had just ‘entered’ the names of the visitors so they could board the flight from Nepal, while in the meantime, their visas were being applied for,” he said.On March 6, he said tourism council officials endorsed the visa at 9.30am.“However, when my staff went to immigration officials, their visas were denied because the tourists had already boarded the plane,” he said, adding that as a reputed tourism company, they had no intentions to bring in tourists illegally.“If that was the case, we wouldn’t have applied for their visas in the first place,” he said. “Immigration officials could’ve approved the visas before the flight landed. There was still time.”The same tourists tried to come through another tour operator but were denied entry. They had to wait for six months.This is the second visa forgery case.Last April, three tourists – two Chinese and one from Switzerland – were deported after it was found their visas were forged.The tourists had flown in from Nepal to be hosted by Bhutan Village tours and treks. An investigation ensued and tourism council officials suspended the operator’s license, who was later declared innocent, as immigration officials could not prove the charges.Such cases, tour operators said concerned the national security and should be taken seriously. They also pointed out the loopholes in the existing laws that needed revision.“It becomes a bad experience for tourists and affects the overall tourism industry,” a tour operator said.The immigration Act states that a person who enters the country illegally would be sent back to the country from where he or she boarded an aircraft or vehicle after imposing Nu 10,000 penalty.No separate provision was stipulated against tour operators forging a visa.“They can get away paying Nu 10,000 and cancellation of license,” a tour operator said. “He or she is not liable for forgery although it’s an offense of misdemeanor or a felony of second degree.”A tour operator, who requested anonymity, said despite the cancellation of license, they could apply for a new license under a different name, like any other business.Immigration officials said in keeping with their Act, they could only impose the prescribed penalty and leave it to TCB to act further.Tourism council officials, said they could only take administrative action.“Cancellation of license is the most severe form of penalty that has already been executed,” a tourism council spokesperson said.The lapse, the spokesperson said was entirely that of the tour operator’s.“It’s a tour operator’s responsibility to ensure their guests have visas before their arrival in Bhutan,” he said.Some tour operators also questioned how tourists with forged visas could board the flight.Drukair officials said they have made it mandatory for all tourists to produce a PDF copy of the visa when they check-in.It was not possible, Druk Air officials said for them to check every tourist for visas.“Only when tourists don’t produce the copy of their visas, we check online.”Meanwhile, some tour operators also highlighted the need to control the number of tour operators.Today the country has more than 1,300 tour operators.By Kinga Dema | Thimphu
