Neten Dorji

Pemagatshel—Four years ago, Tashi Dhendup from Shumar, Pemagatshel, quit his job in tourism due to Covid-19. This left him at a crossroads, as the tourism industry, had supported his family financially.

With few options available, he returned home and started farming. However, he  was discouraged by human-wildlife conflicts. Then he started Lotus Eco-Lodge.

Tashi Dhendup and four other youths, decided to manage the Lotus Eco-Lodge with guidance from the dzongkhag administration.

The members ran the camp from March this year with support from Helvetas Bhutan and dzongkhag administration. Lotus Eco-Lodge is about 5km from the Denchi town.

“The Planning Officer is asking me to form a group and take up these initiatives. We have found hope in this lodge’s operation, thanks to the support from the dzongkhag,” Tashi said.

With the camp business impacting his life, he does not regret leaving job and returning home. “I am happy operating the lodge.”

Though eco-lodge is new in the dzongkhag, the group made an income of Nu 600,000.

“The last nine months of running the camp have been promising,” explained a member, Deki Choden. Each member receives Nu 6,000 monthly from the Youth Livelihood and Engagement Programme (YELP). In addition, the group members started sharing Nu 3,000 starting from the month of October which helps to raise their income a little higher. The income helps cover their expenses  and other needs.

However, the operation was not without challenges for them. Initially, they faced challenges without  kitchen facilities as they had to buy everything from the little income they earned. “I faced challenges interacting with our guests. Now we have gained experience, and we are doing well day by day,” said Pema Thinley.

The eco-lodge has also started benefiting the community. Local farmers have found a marketplace for their produce, as the group purchases livestock and agricultural products from Shumar farmers.

“We give first preference to farmers, and if they do not produce, we buy from Denchi town,” said a leader, Tashi.

Facilities

The Lotus Eco-Lodge features five tents, each with well-furnished bedrooms. It offers additional facilities such as open camping, picnicking areas, bonfire spots and dining options.

The tent costs Nu 1,200 per night including breakfast and dinner for the guests. The eco-lodge has been witnessing visitors for Menchu.The Lotus Eco-Trail to Lotus Eco-Lodge provides a perfect blend of adventure, offering opportunities for wildlife sightings and birdwatching.

Similarly, in the south of Pemagatshel, Nganglam Dungkhag has an eco-lodge called Gongri-Bali. It has already gained recognition for its diverse offerings, including fly fishing and opportunities to observe exotic bird species such as Great Hornbills, Rufous-necked Hornbills, and Laughing Thrushes. 

Looking ahead, the youth behind these initiatives aim to expand their services. Plans are underway to introduce river rafting on the Drangmechu River, one of Bhutan’s largest waterways, which flows below Norbugang Gewog.

In addition to rafting, the group envisions adventure tourism offerings such as fishing, biking, naturalist walks, and overnight stays at their ecolodges. These plans not only promise job creation, employing local river guides and engaging villagers in services like vehicle rentals, but also position Pemagatshel as a key destination for nature-based tourism.

Karma Rinchen, a member of the Gongri-Bali team, emphasised the potential of the recently opened Samdrupjongkhar entry point for tourists.

“The future of ecotourism is in our hands, and we are committed to leading the way,” says Karma. “If the plan goes well, we will purchase more local products and hire vehicles from local people.” 

With the growing number of guests, most of the groups involved in ecotourism are facing a common challenge: road conditions.

Karma Wangchuk says that due to bad road conditions, visitors are facing difficulty travelling on the roads. “We would be grateful if the gewog could improve the road so that everyone can benefit from the eco-lodge,” he says.

The ecotourism initiatives in the dzongkhag are expected to generate business opportunities for local communities and create job prospects for young people. The dzongkhag hands over the eco-lodge to youth groups through an operate-transfer model, allowing the communities to take ownership of the projects once they are set up.