From written records available, there is proof that the Department of Tourism (DoT) was created in 1971, as a Department under the Ministry of Finance. The order was signed by HRH Ashi Sonam Choden Wangchuck, His Majesty’s Representative in the Ministry of Finance. However, living witnesses bear testimony to the fact that tourism activity was nonexistent until October of 1974, when the first paying tourists arrived Bhutan.
The tour group was led by an American of Swedish descend - Mr. Lars-Eric Lindblad, founder of Lindblad Travel, Connecticut, USA. Before that the only guests were those of the Royal family and, in very rare cases, those of the Royal Government of Bhutan.
Mr. Nim Gyaltshen, one of Bhutan's first 10 tour guides - now a part owner of Etho Metho Tours - remembers that Lars-Eric Lindblad paid a Minimum Daily Tariff of US$130.00 per day per person.
Mr. Nim Gyaltshen, one of Bhutan's first 10 tour guides - now a part owner of Etho Metho Tours - remembers that Lars-Eric Lindblad paid a Minimum Daily Tariff of US$130.00 per day per person.
Mr. Lars-Eric Lindblad of Lindblad Travel, Connecticut, USA led the first tour group to Bhutan in October, 1974
Mr. Karma Sonam - then a strapping young lad of 22 years, recalls that the tour group entered Bhutan through Nepal, organized by Rana Travels, Kathmandu. Karma Sonam took up the job of a guesthouse waiter at the government guest house in Motithang, in the year 1971 - when he was just 19 years old. He now operates a laundry service in Thimphu:
Mr. Karma Sonam worked in the hospitality industry since 1971. He served lunch to the first tour group at Chapcha View Point
The first Director of the Department of Tourism was late Dasho Tseten Dorji – who also doubled as the Personal Secretary to HRH Ashi Sonam Choden Wanghuck. Karma Sonam vividly remembers that Dasho Tseten Dorji went down all the way to Kharbandi Hotel in Phuentsholing - to conduct Bhutan’s first tour group, headed by Mr. Lars-Eric Lindblad to Thimphu. The group stopped at Chasilakha where they were served tea, in a teahouse that was built for the dignitaries attending the Coronation of 2nd June, 1974. Karma Sonam carried lunch from Thimphu and met the group at the Chapcha View Point.
Karma Sonam does not remember if the tour group attended Thimphu Tsechu/Dromche - but I believe that they would have – which would explain their choice of October month to make the trip to Bhutan.
Ten of Bhutan's earliest tour guides were recruited on 1st January 1974. They were:
1.Gandhi Nawang Dorji of Nawang Woods
2.Nim Gyaltshen of Etho Metho Tours
3.Karchung of Lhomen Tours
4.Late Kheng Sonam
5.Aku Chewang
6.Pema Chophel
7.Tseten Gyeltshen
8.Kinley Wangdi
9.Rapey Kinga
10.Kunzang Wangchuk
These ten received rudimentary guiding training so that they could be used to take care of the VIPs attending the Coronation ceremony of 2nd June, 1974.
Another senior tourism personality – Mr. Robin Wangdi - remembers that the Department of Tourism, headed by Dasho Tseten Dorji as its Director functioned as a commercial tour operator since its start in 1974.
Mr. Robin Wangdi, one of the earliest tourism personalities of the country. He joined the industry in 1979.
The DoT had a number of Divisions functioning under it:
~Hotel Division, headed by Mr. Sonam Dhendup Tshering, part owner of Rinchen High School.
~Tourism Project Division, headed by late Mr. Dorji Gyaltshen.
~Tourism Commercial Organization, headed by Jigme Tshulthrim.
~Bhutan Travel Agency, headed by Mr. Wangcha Sangey of Haa. Interestingly, this Agency had a marketing office based in New York City, as of 1980. It was headed by a lady named Ms. Marie Brown, who was designated Regional Manager. The appointment seems to have been terminated towards the end of the 80’s.
The DoT’s name was changed to Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC), in 1984. In 1986, Dasho Tseten Dorji was transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Jigme Tshulthrim took over the reigns of the organization. Throughout these transitions, the tourism organization functioned as a tour operator with tourism activity as its core function.
Finally in 1991 tourism business was privatized and the BTC ceased to exist as a tour operator and assumed the role of a regulator – and took on the name Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB).
The first head of the regulatory authority was Mr. Thinley Dorji – more popularly known as Motithang Thinley. Other heads of the organizations were: Tshering Yonten, Tshering Phuntsho, Sangay Wangdi, Lhatu Wangchuk, Kesang Wangdi, Chhimmi Pem and now the incumbent DG Dorji Dradul.
It was during the tenure of Kesang Wangdi that the TAB became autonomous and took on the name: Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB). Before that, the tourism organization was put under a number of parent Ministries, as follows:
DoT :Ministry of Finance
TCO:Ministry of Communications
BTC:Ministry of Trade, Industries & Forests
TAB:Ministry of Trade, Industries & Forests
TCB:Autonomous under a Council headed by the Prime Minister
The Department of Tourism started with the following properties:
Motithang Hotel, Thimphu
Olathang Hotel, Paro
Kharbandi Hotel, Phuentsholing
Chasilakha Rest House/Tea House, Chhukha
All these properties were created to cater to the VIPs who would attend the Coronation of His Majesty the IVth King of Bhutan, on 2nd June, 1974.
I was then manning the Bank of Bhutan’s cash counter at the Motithang Hotel, Thimphu, in my capacity as the Head Clerk of the Bank. The desk was established to provide currency conversion services to the guests. I remember meeting His Majesty Palden Thondup Namgyal, last Chogyal of Sikkim. I also met the boisterous American Ambassador H.E. Daniel P. Moynihan. He was so lively that after so many years, I can still remember his name.