𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐱𝐢 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐉𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧

…𝒗𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒉𝒆𝒄𝒌 𝑷𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒑𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑵𝒖. 4,500 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆, 𝒑𝒆𝒓 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕, 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒈𝒖𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒃𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒚’𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒑𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔.

By Ngawang Jamphel

In the border town of Jaigaon, India, adjacent to Bhutan, a discordant note has emerged. Taxi drivers in Jaigaon are expressing concerns about restricted access to Bhutan for local tourists, citing alleged restrictions imposed by Bhutanese taxi drivers. In response, Bhutanese taxi drivers have strongly denied these accusations, igniting a heated debate that emphasizes the intricacies of cross-border tourism.

At the heart of the matter lies a recent video circulated on Jaigaon’s local social media page, in which a frustrated taxi driver recounts the ordeal of picking up tourists from the Indo-Bhutan Taxi stand in Jaigaon, only to face undercutting by Bhutanese taxi drivers upon crossing into Bhutan. According to him, Bhutanese drivers offer lower fares, claiming exclusivity and leaving their Indian counterparts at a loss. The taxi driver in the video also questioned why Bhutanese taxis are allowed to carry tourists while Indian taxis face restrictions in Bhutan.

Seeking clarity amidst the confusion, the president of the Phuentsholing Taxi Association stepped forward to address the issue. Contrary to the allegations, he clarified that their primary concern is not legitimate taxis bringing in tourists, but rather local private cars conducting unauthorized tours around the Amo Chu Bridge and Rinchending areas. This unauthorized activity not only risks the livelihood of legitimate taxi drivers but also raises safety and ethical concerns within the community.

Adding to the narrative, Rinchen Jamtsho, a local taxi driver in Phuentsholing, shed light on the ethical dilemma faced by Bhutanese drivers. He explained, ‘While we have no objections to Indian vehicles or taxis entering Bhutan up to the Rinchending check post, we often find ourselves dealing with the aftermath of some Indian drivers’ disregard for community ethics and culture. Instances of littering and improper waste disposal by these drivers not only tarnish the pristine landscape but also burden local taxi drivers with the responsibility of cleaning up after them.’
Echoing similar sentiments, another taxi driver emphasized the shared plight of Bhutanese and Indian taxi drivers, acknowledging the frustrations of their Indian counterparts. However, he lamented the negative repercussions stemming from local car owners offering unofficial tourist services, thereby undermining the credibility of legitimate taxi drivers on both sides of the border.

In response to mounting pressures, the Department of Tourism in Bhutan has intervened, offering clarity on the regulations governing cross-border travel. According to their statement, there are no objections to Indian vehicles entering Bhutan up to the Rinchending Check Post. However, vehicles intending to venture beyond this point are required to pay a Sustainable Development Fund fee and Nu. 4,500 per vehicle, per night, in compliance with Bhutanese regulations and contributing to the country’s sustainable development efforts.

This dispute serves as a poignant reminder of the intricate web of challenges surrounding cross-border tourism. While both Jaigaon, India and Bhutan rely on tourism as a vital economic lifeline, disparities in regulations and practices have given rise to misunderstandings and pressures between the two communities. It is imperative for stakeholders on both sides to engage in constructive dialogue to identify mutually beneficial solutions that uphold the interests of all parties involved.

Moreover, there is an urgent need for heightened awareness and enforcement of regulations to curb unauthorized activities and preserve the integrity of the tourism industry in the region. By fostering cooperation and understanding, Jaigaon and Bhutan can pave the way for sustainable tourism practices that not only benefit the local communities but also safeguard the rich natural and cultural heritage of the region.