TCB touted among the best in the world of travel and tourism

The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has been listed among the World’s 75 Most Innovative Organizations in Tourism Policy 2021

Phurpa wangmo

Even before the pandemic, the global tourism industry has been exploring ways to reshape the way people travel, seeking solutions to minimize impacts of tourism on the environment and opportunities to increase economic justice for tourism communities.

TCB has been upholding Bhutan as one of the most exclusive tourist destinations in the world based on “High-value Low volume” (HVLV) tourism. This visionary policy and practice of HVLV have guided Bhutan’s approach to tourism long before sustainable and responsible tourism concepts were introduced in the global tourism sphere.

The Director General of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Dorji Dhradhul said, “I believe this recognition is a direct result of our time-tested tourism policy and practice based on the Royal envisioned principle of ‘High-value Low volume’ tourism.HVLV pursues objectives beyond revenue and receipts, thereby foregoing the possible quick returns that can be received from mass tourism.

According to him, HVLV chooses regulated and managed tourism over mass/over-tourism and quality over quantity. HVLV pursues to provide exclusive and immersive and less is more tourism. 

“Therefore with utmost humility and deepest gratitude, we would like to dedicate this honor to the visionary leadership of our extraordinary Kings,” he said.

He added that it has now become a necessity to rethink tourism in the wake of the Covid19 pandemic– TCB strives to make a comeback to rebuild lives and livelihoods through a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive tourism economy.

As Bhutan steps up efforts to become a global model ecotourism destination, this is reckoned as another milestone in Bhutan’s journey to achieving High-value tourism goals.

By launching plans to mainstream biodiversity conservation into the tourism development and position itself as “a model ecotourism destination”, Bhutan is possibly now a step ahead of tourism around the world.

The DG said that today, as the world is grappling with the climate change crisis and since last year with the COVID-19 pandemic, the destinations worldwide are also seriously exploring for new tourism model that ensures sustainability, health, and happiness of the mother earth and the mankind.

“I believe this new model of tourism that the world is looking for could be the old model of Bhutan’s HVLV tourism. In other words, World’s New is Bhutan’s Old”, the Director General said.

TCB was recognized by Apolitical, as the 75 Most Innovative Organizations in Tourism Policy 2021, are public agencies or non-governmental organizations that use policy, programs, and projects to build creative solutions to challenges.

Organizations were nominated through an open nominations process that included recommendations from individuals, NGOs, organizations, governments, and global leaders.

Organizations were ranked and selected by a team of expert reviewers. The list was announced by Apolitical, in partnership with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Mastercard during UNWTO’s celebration of World Tourism Day on 27^th September 2021.

Apolitical was founded by mission-driven entrepreneurs and backed by impact investors in Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, and Australasia and supported by an EU Horizon 2020 grant. Their mission is to make the government smarter to solve the world’s hardest challenges.