VISIT BHUTAN 2015 Bhutan has declared 2015 as ‘Visit Bhutan Year’ to commemorate the 60th birth anniversary of His Majesty Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Befitting a figure loved and revered by all Bhutanese, it is an occasion for the nation to come together to celebrate 60 years of a life spent in the service of the county and its people. It is an occasion to thank the visionary leader who propounded the concept of Gross National Happiness. Accompanied by the tagline ‘Celebrate Happiness’, 2015 has many exciting events and activities planned to celebrate the year. A website launched in November last year makes available information on the ‘Visit Bhutan 2015’. The information on the website includes those on planning trips, getting in touch with tour operators, and special offers and highlights of events, among others. Besides English, the website contents are accessible in three other languages – French, Japanese, and German. The Visit Bhutan Year is expected to spread tourism benefits throughout the year and country. Tour operators will develop family packages for domestic tourists, so that people from other parts of the country can visit places they haven’t visited earlier. Bhutan’s two airlines – the national airline Drukair Corporation Ltd., and the private airline Tashi Air Pvt Ltd – may offer special deals for 2015. And, many hotels and resorts may offer special discounts as well. However, during the year, there will be no change in daily minimum tariff of USD 250 a day during peak season and USD 200 a day during lean season for tourists visiting this year. Also to mark the celebrations, world famous conductor Benjamin Zander will perform with his acclaimed BPYO orchestra in August 2015, and the royal Textile Academy will host an exhibition titled ‘A tribute to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo – A King of Destiny’. The annual matsutake festival in Bumthang will be celebrated with Japanese. Several other countries are interested to contribute programmes for the Visit Bhutan Year. The foreign journalists are also invited to write about the country and the events. Tourism in Bhutan was introduced in 1974 during the coronation of Fourth King. Since then, guided by His Majesty Fourth King, Bhutan has pursued a cautious policy in tourism that is today the envy of many in the world. Therefore, the Tourism Council of Bhutan humbly dedicates Visit Bhutan 2015 to His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Fourth Druk Gyalpo turns 60 on November 11, 2015. This day will see the culmination of the year-long celebrations. Any day of the year is cause for celebration. There are many more exciting events to come. Keep yourself updated on them at visitbhutanyear.
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 13:30:39 +0000