Bhutan's high-end tourism model strikes a fine balance between boosting economy and conserving traditions and the environment
PICS: HUM GURUNG
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: Even with 80,000 residents in the capital, water from the Thimphu river is safe to drink. As buildings have to follow a strict code for design, houses throughout the country look similar and have a certain old world charm.
There was a time when Nepal was known as the last Shangri-la. Today that title rightfully belongs to
Bhutan. Even as the Himalayan kingdom cautiously opened itself to the outside world in the mid-70s, it kept one step firmly rooted in the past. By adapting modern technology without deserting its culture and forested wilderness, Bhutan is one of the few success stories of sustainable development.
The country’s journey started in 1972 when former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck introduced ‘Gross National Happiness’ to his people. He believed that the overall wellbeing of the Bhutanese and their traditions and natural resources were of greater importance than pure economic progress. Even in tourism, Bhutan made a deliberate choice of quality over quantity by imposing a $250 fee on all visitors. Despite the hefty tariff, thousands throng here every year to appreciate and learn about the Drukpa lifestyle that remains largely intact. And it is this mixture of the past and the present that puts Bhutan on top of every traveller’s list.
The highway that leads into Thimphu from Paro is as well made and maintained as those in the west.
English is widely spoken, there are Western-style hotels and food throughout the country. Young, urban Bhutanese are hooked to their gadgets and yet boys dressed in their traditional robes, gho, and girls in their ankle length kiras is a very common sight. More than conformity it a genuine show of affection towards their culture and a desire to stay in touch with their roots.
Nestled between rice fields, Tashichho Dzong on the northern edge of Thimphu houses the offices of the royal government.
The streets here are clean, the highways are wide and well-maintained, traffic jams are rare. While we in Nepal have turned our rivers into open sewers and stripped naked our forests, the Thimphu River that flows through the capital city is still in its emerald green glory. Bhutan has made it big without sacrificing its rolling green hills and fresh air. Us neighbours have a lot to learn.
Hum Gurung, PhD, is CEO of Himalayan Sustainable Future Foundation.
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