National Assembly:26 June 2006- With bird watching in Sengor and Saling, black necked cranes in Bomdeling and a rich variety of traditional weaves, crafts and festivals, eastern Bhutan has immense potential for tourism. Yet its doors are shut to most tourists visiting the country.
Constant security problems in Assam was seen as one of the main causes that choked the growth of tourism in the east.
The Trade and Industry minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, told the National Assembly on June 22 that although the security situation in the east had eased after the militants were flushed out of the country, tourists still felt insecure to visit the east because of the frequent security turmoil in Assam.
With majority of the tourists being old people, the minister said that it was too tiring a journey for them to travel the long winding lateral highway through valleys, over hills, all the way from Paro to the east.
The absence of an airport in the east was another drawback, according to Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba.
The issue was raised by the Mongar chimi, Sonam, who said that besides boosting the eastern economy it would also lead to balanced development.
With the policy to encourage community based tourism the Trashigang chimi, Mani Tshering, said that it would be appropriate to introduce a liaison office in the east to promote tourism in the eastern region. He also said that the government should negotiate with the Indian government to open a route from Guwahati airport for tourists wanting to enter the eastern regions.
As the countrys second highest revenue generator, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said that the government was willing to provide complete support in promoting tourism in the east but he reminded the assembly members that it was important to maintain the quality of tourists flying into the country so that the country's pristine environment and unique culture is preserved.
Home and Cultural Affairs minister Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley reminded the assembly that it was important to ensure the safety of the tourists visiting the east.
He said that most of the tourists visiting Bhutan were from Japan, America and other European countries where their governments discouraged their citizens from visiting risky areas. A small incident could affect the country's entire tourism industry, said the home minister.
The home minister added that although Guwahati airport had become international, the national airline, Druk Air, was not able to finalise its operation in India as the authority was yet to determine its safety.
The National Assembly speaker, Dasho Ugen Dorje resolved that it was difficult to make any immediate arrangement for tourism in the east considering the security situation in the south.
source:www.kuenselonline.com
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