Expression from an Idiot by birth:

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT AT-LEAST THIS IS HOW I SEE The country is divided when the law makers of the nation tabled the  minimum daily tariff of USD 250/tourist/day for discussion. The debate is on and i believe that debate is healthy for any kinds of paradigm shifts and developments. My vote was for doing away with minimum daily tariff, however to maintain the daily royalty of USD 65/tourist/day. There are many thinkers who believe that tourism policy and the minimum daily tariff has worked in Bhutan and there is no need for revision or rather discussion. I will not argue on this as it has made Bhutan one of the most sought after destination and only about 5 % of those in whose bucket list Bhutan is reflected is able to visit the country. And this is not because Bhutan is expensive. It is because many tourists has always thought that Bhutan's visa is difficult to get which is further coupled with the daily tariff of USD 200-250/day/tourist. It isn't the fault of the tourists, ...

I MAY BE WRONG, BUT AT-LEAST THIS IS HOW I SEE Before i begin anything, i am for the change provided the royalty of USD 65/tourist/day goes to the government exchequer. My arguments: The current tariff of USD 250/tourist/day is of-course in-line with the policy of 'High Value - Low Impact' policy which seem to be doing very well to the Bhutan's economy (I m not arguing in this front nor with regards to the policy). However, i believe that the royalty of USD 65/day/pax may be tabled for discussion. Beyond the royalty, the rest should be left for the tour operators or to the tourist themselves. The current fixed tariff seems to benefit only those hotels/guest houses wherein the tour operators are friendly as it leaves either with no choice or very little choice to the tourists themselves. I believe that leaving it for the tourist themselves to decide will remove the complacency of our tour operators as well as the guest houses/hotels: With the fixed tariff, besides USD...

I was in Nepal yesterday to attend a conference on climate change and energy security and i feel that it would not have been organized at a better time. The conference organizers put me in one of the finest hotels in Kathmandu and there was a car and a driver to take me to the hotel from the airport. As soon as i got in the car, i greeted the driver with Namaste Dai! This two words of greetings made him feel comfortable to share on what's happening these days in Nepal and what's happening to him at personal level. He began by saying "khoi sir..." (means a sense of un-happiness) and said that, he lost his ten year old son during the devastating earthquake which hit Nepal and his house was totally destroyed. He said, government didn't approve his proposal to build a house and now they are living in a small makeshift home. Then he went on to saying, how badly Nepal has been hit by this so called un-official blockade. Nepal has been severely hit by the  blockade ...

After having completed my Bachelors in Forestry, i have been extremely lucky to have been gifted with an opportunity to work in the conservation and environmental institute in Lamai Goempa - Bumthang. It was mid - January 2007 and Lamai Goempa had its first snow fall of the year. My job demands me to teach, conduct research and make presentations. I will admit that, i have been given the great opportunity to attend quite a good number of international and regional conferences wherein I was also provided with an opportunity to give a talk. In July 2015, I was asked to talk on the climate change hazards and adaptation experiences based on natural resources and phenology in Kathmandy - Nepal; in August this year, I was asked to deliver a talk on Bhutan's Natural Capital in Goa, India; on 9th November I was made to talk on Sustainable Development Goals and linking GNH, in Bumthang; and yesterday I delivered a talk on Climate Change and Energy Security - Challenges and Strategies ...