With its pristine natural environment, Bhutan, many say, is one of the best trekking locations in the world; but, for growing number of visitors, the kingdom is seen more as a cultural destination.
Tour operators said, while the same minimum daily tariff of USD 250 and 200 during the high and lean season applied for both cultural and trekking tourists, selling cultural tour packages was easier.
This, according to tour operators, is largely attributed to the visitors’ profile, and a lack of development on trek routes.
Majority of dollar-paying tourists were above 45 years, and the government’s pricing policy attracted older people, who were rich or had savings, rather than young people seeking an adventurous holiday.
Tourists always complaint that trekking routes lacked development, and that the services provided for treks weren’t worth their money, some tour operators said. One constant feedback was that trekking in Nepal was much better and cheaper.
There were teahouses, proper campsites and smoother trails in Nepal. “In Bhutan, tourists have no other choices but to camp,” a tour operator said. “The campsites are usually dirty and congested.”
Another tour operator said, during the peak season, they had to rush to reach a campsite, before the other trekkers could get there.
Except for a handful of big travel agencies, which are able to provide all the trekking facilities, most are not able to provide a hassle-free trekking experience.
Rather than trekking, tour operators said walking trips or hiking was picking up.
Others said a tourism master plan was necessary, where trekking can also be diversified and developed further, with a commercial aspect to it. “It can be either privatised or come under park services,” said a tour operator.
Of the 64,028 tourists last year, 3,402 were trekking tourists; while in 2010, there were 2,753 trekking tourists from the total arrival of 40,873.
In 2009, of the 23,480 tourists, 2,404 combined their cultural itinerary with a trek, which included 863, who came particularly to trek.
Of the 27,636 tourists who came in 2008, there were 2,989 trekking tourists with combined itineraries, of which 1,210 came for trekking alone.
This year’s tourist arrival figures for trekking were not available from the tourism council secretariat.
Trekking is a part of nature-based tourism activity, and varies from a night to about 40 nights for the Snowman Trek.
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