Americans back on top in tourist arrivals

Americans back on top in tourist arrivalset

After falling second for the first time in 2012 to the Japanese, the Americans were once again #1

Tourism: American tourists dominated international arrivals last year, surpassing Japanese tourists who topped arrivals in 2012 .

Of the 52,798 international tourists, who visited the country last year, the highest were Americans, with about 6,927 visitors, a tentative arrival list by nationality show.

After the US, the other top source markets were China with about 4,764 tourists, Japan with about 4,015 and about 3,494 Thai tourists.

Americans continued to dominate international tourist arrivals until 2011.  However, in 2012, for the first time, it was Japanese tourists that topped the market.

Tourist arrivals by nationality

Japanese tourists surpassing American tourists in 2012 was mainly attributed to Their Majesties’ visit to Japan in 2011, which generated “enormous” publicity, followed by Tourism Council of Bhutan’s (TCB) follow-up promotions in Japan.

Also, for the first time in four years, Chinese tourists surpassed Japanese tourists, emerging as the second top source market last year.

The country usually saw the highest arrivals from the US followed by Japan.  In 2010, Germany saw an increase of about 42 percent in arrivals, overtaking the UK.

“During the same year, China represented a promising new market and was rated among the top five major markets for the first time with an increase of about 30 percent over 2009,” the tourism monitor stated.

In 2011, China emerged as the third top source markets with 2,896 visitors, records with Tourism Council  show.  During the same year, Thailand stood fifth among the top source markets with 2,235 visitors.

While arrival figures from top source markets were important, the tourism monitor stated that measuring source markets based on duration of stay was a valuable indicator. “Yield and revenue are linked to the duration of stay,” the monitor stated.

Despite the increase in arrivals from neighbouring Asian countries, Tourism Council  records indicated that tourists from US always visited for a longer period, contributing to higher revenue, followed by countries like the UK and Germany.

After dominating the top source market for a long time, the US dropped to the second in 2012, followed by Chinese, Thai and British tourists.  That year, the country recorded 105,407 international and regional tourists.

“A record increase in the top Asian markets like Japan, China, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia propelled the Asia/Pacific region to be the dominating market region in the world,” the 2012 tourism monitor stated.

The increase in arrivals from neighbouring Asian countries, tour operators, said was an advantage for tourism industry, considering the effort towards promoting the country as a all year-round tourist destination.

A majority of Asians, tour operators said, travelled during summer months to escape the heat. “So that’s when we have to package tours and market accordingly to attract Asian tourists and so far, our efforts have paid off,” a tour operator said.

Last year, 116,224 international and regional tourists visited the country, an increase by about 10 percent or 10,810 tourists from the previous year.

Of the total arrivals, 44,267 were international or Dollar paying tourists, 8,531 under international business, while the rest 63,426 were regional tourists.

Source: Kuensel

By Kinga Dema

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Popular Routes of Trekking

Source: K2 By kinga Dema

Druk path trek: Duration: six days The treks start from either Thimphu towards paro or vice versa. Surpassing beautiful Himalayas where you also get to experience wonderful views of lakes and the rhododendron forest. Season: late February to June and September to December.

Jomolhari Treks Durations: nine days offering a great view of land scape, the treks starts from Drukgyel Dzong in Paro and passes through the dense forested valleys leading to the high alpine pastureland where yak herders graze their animals. Season: April to June and September to November.

Laya Gasa Trek Duration: 12 days. From picturesque farmland and forests to alpine pastureland and high passes. The trek starts from Shana in Paro and ends at Punakha. This route also offers some of the most impressive peaks like Mount Jhomlhari and Jichu Drakey. April is considered the best month for laya region. Season: April to June and mid-September to Mid- November.

Bumthang Culture Trek Duration: Three days This trek passes through several villages through Bumthang’s countryside providing an exceptional opportunity for contact with Bhutanese rural life. Season: March to May and September to November.

Gangtey Trek: Duration: three days Considered one of the finest treks. Gangtey trek starts from Phobjikha valley in Wangduephodrang. The trek passes through the meadows and fields of villages in Gogona and Khotokha and enters the dense forest filled with Magnolia, Juniper and Rhododendrons. Season: March to May and September to November

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Bhutan Makes Top Three in Tourist Destinations

Really not a bad start to the year for the country and especially the tourism sector, given that Bhutan has only been selected as one of the three finalists in the “Destination Stewardship.”
The Destination Stewardship Award goes to a destination which successfully demonstrates a program of sustainable tourism, while incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits.
The award is categorized for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards and it is hosted by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
This year’s awards panel received 133 applications from more than 46 countries on six continents, with Bhutan shortlisted to top three of this pool.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has already started to come up with new activities to be warm and hospitable hosts to the tourists.
But before that, said the Joint Director of Marketing and Promotion Department, TCB Chhimmy Pem, “couple of challenges needs to be addressed”.
She said the regional spread of tourist sites and introduction of more products are the main challenges for the TCB. Therefore from 2013, TCB have already done a thorough research and a proper study to have regional balance, in consultant with the Dzongkhag Administration.
“At the moment the tourist site is mostly concentrated in the western regions and in eastern regions we have limited hotels,” she added.
The TCB has plans to encourage more home-stays in the rural regions and some of the rural houses in Trashiyangtse have already been selected as venues for the tourists. Henceforth, tour operators and tourist should not face problems of not having proper hotels or lodging facilities.
Phobjikha the best roosting place for the Black-necked Cranes have identified 20 houses as home stay locations for tourists.
“It will be started by this year as villagers are being trained on hospitality in order to host the guests positively,” said Gewog Gup Jamtsho.
Joint Director Chhimmy Pem said “Butterfly tour in east and Community Based tourism is being planned.”
She added that Merak and Sakteng in Trashigang and Nabji-Korphu in Trongsa are some of the sites selected for community-based tourism. This is mainly to have regionally balanced visits for tourists.
“Tourism is not a substitute for the livelihood but it’s a supplement for people’s livelihood,” she stressed.
Tourism Officer Phuntsho Gyeltshen said the TCB had worked to come-up with new trekking routes. The study is meant to introduce old trade routes as trekking routes for tourists.
Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar and Bumthang to Zhemgang are some of the routes selected for trekking routes.
Feasibility studies in consultation with respective dzongkhag administrations and local leaders were undertaken to identify the routes. “We have asked them to come up with their prioritized sites too,” said Phuntsho Gyeltshen.
A substantial increase in terms of employment opportunities is a real possibility since Bhutan is listed as one of the top tourist destinations for 2013 in popular magazines such as Travelers Magazines of National Geographic, New York Times travel magazines and Forbes magazine.
The officiating Director of corporate performance Department under TCB, Kinley Wangdi said as there is more number of tourist visits, the services should be good and consequently the employment opportunities will never decrease.
In 2011 there were 23,095 employment opportunities under the tourism industry and in 2012 it increased to 25,987.
“We cannot have an immediate benefit but within these 5 years we will have a good development from the tourism industry,” he added. The TCB expects more tour operators from Trashigang, Gelephu and other southern regions.
In 2011, the total tourist visitors were 100,833 and in 2012 it increased to 105,414. And it’s obvious that this year tourist visitors will be more than that.
The TCB to this end has decentralized the tourism development in Zhemgang and Haa regions. It has even come up with a circuit approach whereby 6 eastern dzongkhags are merged into two circuits with a specific theme. Similar approach has been taken with other three regions also.
“For the southern regions TCB will mainly focus on Manas as eco-tourism and community based tourism,” said Kinley Wangdi.
Community-based tourism will mainly promote culture, local festivals and natural tourism. Similarly other regions are also chosen with a specific theme and would promote tourism in a balanced manner.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution from tourism sector in 2011 was US$ 152mn and 89% of tourists were satisfied with their visit to Bhutan.

By Thinley Wangmo | 25 January 2013 in The Bhutanese

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