Bhutanese students caught in Telengana crisis

January 31 – The wave of agitation in the southern Indian state, Andhra Pradesh for a separate state of Telengana that began about two months ago, has left Bhutanese students in a state of dilemma. The Telengana region covers 10 of Andhra Pradesh’s 23 districts, including Hyderabad, the capital. The state has seen violent protests for and against the proposed new state affecting life and educational institutes in various sectors of the state, including Hyderabad city. Speaking to Kuensel,... Read more

“NO” from guides on tariff liberalisation

January 31 – The Guides Association of Bhutan (GAB), which represents the country’s almost 1,300 guides voted against the policy to liberalise the existing US$ 200 tariff that Tourism Council of Bhutan proposed. The decision was a unanimous one from all 102 GAB members who were called for a meeting to discuss the policy yesterday. Voting forms were distributed among other guides to deliver for those unable to attend. GAB executive members said the association was in the dark regarding the... Read more

Festival Dates 2010

Tentative Festival Dates 2010 Festival Place Dates (2010) Punakha Dromche Punakha 18 – 22 February Punakha Tshechu Punakha 23 – 25 February Chorten Kora Trashiyangtse 28 February – 15 March Gomkora Trashigang 23 – 25 March Paro Tshechu Paro 26 – 30 March Chhukha Tshechu Chhukha 28 – 30 March Ura Yakchoe Bumthang 24 – 28 April Nimalung Tshechu Bumthang 19 – 21 June Kurjey Tshechu Bumthang 21 June Wangdue Tshechu Wangdue Phodrang 15... Read more

Druk Air Flight Schedule from 1 Feb – 24 April 2010

1 February 2010 to 27 March 2010 DAY FLIGHT.NO SECTOR DEP ARR REMARKS MON KB204 PBH-DEL 0600 0800 KB205 DEL-PBH 0850 1135 KB123 BKK-GAY GAY-PBH 0650 0905 0835 1050 KB126 PBH-DAC DAC-BKK 1140 1310 1240 1640 TUE KB400 PBH-KTM 0800 0855 effective 1 Mar 2010 KB401 KTM-PBH 0935 1050 KB130 PBH-IXB IXB-BKK 1140 1205 1135 1645 KB129 BKK-PBH 0550 0750 KB210 PBH-CCU 0840 0920 KB211 CCU-PBH 1000 1140 WED KB204 PBH-DEL 0600 0800 KB205 DEL-PBH 0850 1135 KB131 BKK-IXB IXB-PBH 0650 0905 0835 1000 KB122 PBH-GAY GAY-BKK 1050 1205 1135 1635 THU KB400 PBH-KTM 0800 0855 KB401 KTM-PBH 0935 1050 KB126 PBH-DAC DAC-BKK 1140 1310 1240 1640 KB129 BKK-PBH 0550 0750 KB210 PBH-CCU 0840 0920 effective... Read more

Liberalised tariff highend tourism

January 28 – The Tourism Council of Bhutan says that the new liberalised tariff system is meant to not only increase the number of tourists to 100,000 in the next three years but also have more high-end tourists. TCB officials said that the current USD 200 dollars was supposed to be a minimum price introduced in 1989 but in reality most tour operators provided everything within or lower than the package. According to TCB this ‘minimum glass ceiling’ has become a ‘glass trap’ with no... Read more

The Druk Punjab National Bank

January 28 - The Druk Punjab National Bank Ltd. (DPNB) in Thimphu did brisk business yesterday disbursing more than Nu 100 million in loans and 200 plus people opening accounts on its opening day. An Indian national, AB, was among the first to open an account. “It will be easier and cheaper for me to send money to my mother in India,” said AB who works with the Business Bhutan weekly newspaper. “With the two ATM cards issued by the bank I’ll send one to my mother who can use it to withdraw... Read more

India contributes Nu 250m towards disaster relief fund

January 27: The government of India contributed Nu 250 million towards the disaster relief fund of the royal government. Presenting the cheque to Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley yesterday, the Indian ambassador in Bhutan described the contribution as a “small token of our deep concern” for the devastation caused by the earthquake in Bhutan last September. The ambassador said that India appreciated the efforts made by the royal government to bring succor to those afflicted by the earthquake and hoped... Read more

McKinsey projects 70 % rise in health care cost

January 26 – McKinsey’s diagnostic finding on Bhutan’s health care system projected a 70 percent increase in health care cost in the next five years if the country’s health system standards remained the same. McKinsey explained that global experiences showed improving health services at this stage was more costly because of changing patterns of diseases. “Bhutan is at the cusp where further improvement in health outcomes requires higher cost,” stated the findings. Such findings have... Read more

Jaipur literary festival

January 26 – Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, in conversation with Nandini Mehta on “Treasures of the Thunder Dragon” at the Diggi Palace in Jaipur, India. “Treasures of the Thunder Dragon” is Her Majesty’s second book which was published in 2006. Her Majesty was invited as a guest speaker at the Jaipur Literature Festival that gathers eminent authors, writers, poets, publishers and journalists from India and abroad. The festival, considered Asia’s leading... Read more

Think big, become an online entrepreneur

January 25 – You don’t necessarily need money to make money today, claimed Richard Tan, who spoke at an event organised to encourage attendees to explore and pursue entrepreneurship, in Thimphu, last Friday. “If you want to make a lot of money today, it’s with ideas,” said the owner of Singaporean firm, Success Resources, which primarily deals in organising seminars. Holding its first seminar in Bhutan, Tan spoke on creating employment opportunities using information communications... Read more

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