BHUTAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL Wilderness House, Buddha Point Terrace. Post Box # 1000, Olakha, Thimphu, Bhutan Tel: +975 02 351395 Fax: +975 02 351236 Email: info@bhutanwilderness.com kesang@bhutanwilderness.com www.bhutanwilderness.com FACTS ABOUT VISITNG BHUTAN. ABSTRACT In this case study we lay down some few facts to your knowledge on choosing the right travel partner or your host while visiting Bhutan which can make a huge difference to your trip. It would be a short and details description on tours conducted in Bhutan. INTRODUCTION Bhutan Wilderness Travel has been established since 2006 as a trekking specialized company by Mr. Kesang Tshering who had been trained in the US and other mountaineering institution with specialization in Bhutan for over 25 years. It is an inbound travel company specialized in adventure holidays, culture tours, trekking holidays etc. In Bhutan only. The company offers various product to the interest of the clients within a maximum time period of 24 hours of correspondence depending on the time difference. Tourism in Bhutan started since 1974 where all correspondence where done through mail as internet connection were introduce in the year 1998 (25 th coronation day of the 4 th king) from where the tourism industry started expanding with 1 travel agency in 1974 to 1300 travel agency in 2014. In this process of development of tourism through time the government established a department known as the Tourism Council of Bhutan which started laying down the outline for which tourism activities can be carried out in Bhutan.
TARIFF INFORMATION S/L# DETAILS RATES ( USD) REMARKS 1 LAND COST (INCULDING ROYALTY 65$ PER PERSON PER NIGHT) HIGH SEASON $250 PER PERSON PER NIGHT HAULT. MARCH, APRIL, MAY. SEPT, OCT, NOV. 2 LAND COST (INCULDING ROYALTY 65$ PER PERSON PER NIGHT) LOW SEASON $250 PER PERSON PER NIGHT HAULT. 3 SURCHARGE $ 40 PER PERSON PER NIGHT HAULT. JAN, FEB, JUNE, JULY, AUG, DEC. FOR SINGLE TRAVELLER ALL SEASON. FOR 2 PERSON TRAVELLING. 4 SURCHARGE $ 30 PER PERSON PER NIGHT HAULT. 5 VISA FEE $ 40 ONE TIME VISA FEE. The minimum daily package covers the following services. A minimum of 3 star accommodation twin sharing rooms. All meals A licensed Bhutanese tour guide for the extent of your stay All internal transport Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours All internal taxes and charges A sustainable tourism Royalty of $65. This Royalty goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of infrastructure. Extra charge of surcharge is also charge for traveler travelling in a group of 2 person and less. This is an form of tourism taxes which directly is taken by the government from the travel agents accounts. These rates are applicable per tourist per night halt in Bhutan. On the day of departure, the local agents host obligation shall be limited to providing breakfast only and any extra requirements shall be payable on usage basis. The list of hotels and lodges approved to provide accommodations all listed on this website. If you accommodation is not listed on this website then it is not licensed cater for international tourists. The Royal Government of Bhutan sets minimum selling prices for packages to Bhutan. These must be paid in US dollars prior to arrival in Bhutan.
The minimum daily package does not cover the following services. Accommodation in 4 and 5 star hotels ( additional charges required) Drinks and beverages on tours Meals at 4 and 5 star hotels Additional activities like mountain biking and rafting. (extra cost) Language and specialized guides ( birding, flora and fauna, photography) Air fare ( international and domestic) Supplement charges for single traveler. DISCOUNTS A) There shall be no charge for CHILDREN below the age of 5 years. However, those between the ages of 5-12 years accompanied by elders/ guardians shall be given 50% discount on daily rates. This Royalty is currently set at $65 per day. B) Full time STUDENTS below the age of 25 years, holding valid identity cards from their academic institutions, shall be given 25% discount. C) A discount of 50% on minimum daily package shall be given to one person in a group of 11 people. 100% discount shall be given to one member in a group exceeding 16 persons.
TARIFF CHARTS TOTAL COST OF TRAVEL GOVERNEMENT [ROYALTY ($65 PER NIGHT HAULT) + SURCHARGE PER NIGHT + VISA FEE] TRAVEL AGENT [TOTAL COST (ROYALTY PER NIGHT HAULT+ SURCHARGE PER NIGHT + VISA FEE)] FREE EDUCATION, FREE HEALTH CARE, PROVEDY REDUCATION AND INFURSTRATION BULDING. ACCOMODATION AND ALL MEALS INTERNATIONAL STANDARD WITH ADDATIONAL BREAKFAST FOR ONE DAY. TRANSPORT SUV DELUXE VECHILES HIRE ON NUMBER OF DAYS PROFESSION AL ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE HIRED ON NUMBER OF DAYS ALL ENTRANCE FEES AND ADDATIONAL ACTIVITIES CHARGES When we break down the cost and actually calculate, the service received by the clients is more than the amount you pay. So visiting Bhutan from our point of view is not very expensive. VISA With the exception of visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, all other visitors to Bhutan need a visa. Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals can obtain a visa at the port of entry on producing a valid passport with a minimum of 6 month validity (Indian nationals may also use their Voters Identity Card (VIC)).
All other tourists must obtain a visa clearance prior to travel to Bhutan. Visas are processed through an online system by your licensed Bhutanese tour operator, directly or through a foreign travel agent. You are required to send the photo-page of your passport to your tour operator who will then apply for your visa. The visa will be processed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) once the full payment of your holiday (including a USD $40 visa fee) has been wire transferred and received in the TCB bank account. Once received the visa clearance will be processed within 72 working hours. At your point of entry you will be required to show your visa clearance letter, the visa will then be stamped into your passport. TRANSFER OF YOUR MONEY FOR HOLIDAY After all you arrangements are confirmed then the next process is wiring of money. When you wire the money it goes into the account of the government with the travel company as the beneficiary, after which we have to submitted the transfer slip to our bank here in Bhutan and then notify Tourism Council of Bhutan who then process the Visa after receiving the fund. Later when you leave the country the fund is transfer back into the travel company s account after deducting all the taxes from where the payment for your tours would be carried out. It s always best to wire the money 45 day prior to your arrival date in Bhutan as the Bank transaction takes more time often. So the transfer of money into Bhutan is always safe as long as you get the correct address from the right people based here in Bhutan itself. DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES S/L# ACTIVITES RATES 1 BIKING 30$ PER DAY 2 BIKING CARRIAGE CHARGES 50$ PER ROUND TRIP 3 RAFTING $200 PER 6 SEATER RAFT 4 ARCHERY $20 PER LESSON AND USAGE 5 DART $20 PER LESSON AND USAGE
These activates can be pre-arranged before your trip or can be arranged after you reach Bhutan. These activities are charged extra and are not inclusive in the cost as it becomes expensive. COST PER PERSON INCCURED BY YOUR TRAVEL COMPANY Here we will take you a through the expenses which would be paid for your tour by the travel firm. TOTAL TOUR COST THAT YOU HAVE TO PAY S/L# PARTICULAR AMOUNT 1 LAND COST ($250 * NO OF NIGHTS) $250 2 SURCHARGE ($40 * NUMBER OF NIGHTS) $40 3 VISA FEE ($ 40 ONE TIME FEE) $40 4 AIR FARE ($840 BKK-PBH-BKK BOTH WAYS) $840 TOTAL COST $1,170 EXPENSE AFTER THE TOUR S/L# PARTICULAR AMOUNT 1 ROYALTY TAKEN BY THE GOVT ($65 * NO OF $65 NIGHTS) 2 SURCAHRGE TAKEN BY GOVT ($ 40 * NO OF $40 NIGHTS) 3 VISA FEE TAKEN BY GOVT ($ 40) $40 4 AIR FARE BOTH WAYS $ 836 5 TRANSPORTATION (AVERAGE $50 PER DAY) $ 50 6 GUIDING ($30 PER DAY) $ 30 7 ACCOMODATION $ 65 8 MEALS $30 9 OTHER MISC EXPENSE ON TOUR ONLY $ 20 TOTAL $1,176
ANALYSIS ON THE DATA We have done the calculation on one day for one person, so by looking at the chart you can just see that the expenses incurred by the travel firm is way over what you have paid, that is why there would be additional supplement cost for single room user. Even for two person the cost is shared for transportation, guide and accommodation but the profit that the company keeps to cover up its expense it still very less. So when we put all this calculation together we can conclude that the visiting Bhutan is in fact cheap with great services provided by the travel firm based here in Bhutan. RESEARCH ON WHY FEW CLIENTS ARE DISSPOINTED After all the careful finding of the tour cost we can simply put the words as if you are paying less the service provider here in Bhutan will not be able to give his services as the definition of business is to make profits. Here in Bhutan there are some travel firms who prefers to cut down the cost in various fields which enables them to come down on the cost but at the expense of the service that would be provided to you and at the same time there are third travel partners aboard who would charge you the rate published or even more and at the very end you are disappointed. Here is how the business works in Bhutan, if you are paying more you get the best of everything but when you are paying less you will be treated to very last option that would be available in the market from the point of view of the travel agent in Bhutan but in reality you are paying high as same as all the other person where the middle man has his cuts. Although we have fewer clients dissatisfied where the majority had been satisfied where the fewer people voices has been unheard of but my word of advice is try and choose the right partner or travel host to maintain the long term business as the saying goes milk a cow and eat for a life time rather than just selling it for once. WORKING DETAILS ABOUT BHUTAN WILDERNESS TRAVEL Here at Bhutan Wilderness Travel they have a minimum eligible criteria to qualify to work with them which are as follows:
1. When it comes to hiring of transportation the vehicles has to be below 5 years of usage in perfect condition with a driver experience not less than 7 years. The company cars are of highly maintained vehicles (Toyota) with drivers over 10 years of experiences. The company has 10 SUV cars, 3 Medium bus and 3 Coaster bus in highly maintain condition at its disposal. 2. When it comes to guides, the company hires guides with a minimum experience of not less than 5 years with clear records of the past in terms of good behaviors and very good communication skills knowledgeable in every fields. The company also have language guides in French, German and Chinese. 3. When it comes to operation skills the company has hired personal who had been working in the fields with good knowledge on Bhutan which makes the first communication easier to understand with the tour program better to be coordinated. 4. When it comes to accommodation the company has tied with the best service provider know in Bhutan with various choice in your selection. These accommodation places will be available at any time of your request even during busy season. The treatments that you will get from this places would be little different compared to others in the same place when you travel with Bhutan Wilderness travel as the company does not go for discount and asks for the highest level of their services to their clients without any failures. There would always be unexpected upgradation in your rooms from time to time. 5. When it comes to meals the company offers choices depending on the region to choose from where you can decide what you want to go for, breakfast is English continental breakfast at your hotel itself but you can have choice over your menu for lunch and dinner at any local restaurant and you can also ask for special arrangements for candle light dinner. 6. When it comes to travel partner aboard, all the travel partners with Bhutan Wilderness Travel are of the highest quality and does not have any discount rate where by the company is able to provide the best for it clients. The travel partners has their own rates which is higher than the published rates but offers the same rates to us. The companies Moto Highest quality of services with no compromise on rates 7. There are various services that are provided extra like Rafting and Biking which are also provided free of cost from the company to all its clients. This are some of the ways in which the company was able to achieve 100% fully satisfied clients in the services that was provided.
CONCLUSION This are some of the few facts about how tours are conducted in Bhutan, the rates which are quoted for your better understanding, and why few clients are unhappy after arriving in the land of happiness. I would like to advise all clients who plans on visiting Bhutan or any Travel partner to carefully study all this material to help you make your choice of selection. Bhutan has always been the hottest destination and with all the upcoming plans of various company and the government we hope it grows even better and bigger. Tandin Wangyel