Dechen Dolkar
The Immigration Check Post at Samdrupjongkhar is expected to open for entry and exit of international tourists by the end of September.
Currently, international tourists can enter and exit only through Phuentsholing’s integrated checkpoint.
The foreign affairs and external trade minister, D N Dhungyel, said that the government was prepared to open the gate for tourists at any time and was waiting for the Indian side to be ready.
Lyonpo said that the government was in constant communication with the Government of India. “Recently, the Ambassador of India to Bhutan informed us that the Foreigners’ Check Post will be ready from their side by the end of September.”
Lyonpo added that the Indian ambassador mentioned the two governments would coordinate to decide on a specific date for the official opening.
“We expect to begin operations by the end of this month, but we are also waiting for the Indian side to be ready,” Lyonpo said.
India’s Foreigners’ Check Post is located in Darranga, a small town in the Buxa district of Bodoland, Assam, about 500 metres from Bhutan’s international border.
Sources indicate that the Foreigners’ Check Post is in an advanced stage of development, with hopes for an early inauguration.
The integrated check post aims to strengthen people-to-people connections and promote tourism between the two countries.
A local hotelier said that Samdrupjongkhar has faced isolation and severe impact since the pandemic. With the reopening of the border gate, the entire eastern region is expected to benefit, as the town has been inactive for the past two months.
However, a local resident mentioned that merely reopening the border gate is insufficient. The government needs to invest in improving infrastructure and amenities along the highway, which are currently lacking, despite the area’s sufficient number of hotels.
Another hotelier proposed that to enhance tourism in the eastern region, the government should consider offering incentives, such as a 50 percent reduction in the Sustainable Development Fee, to attract more visitors.
“There is considerable potential to attract tourists from northeast India, as they show strong interest in visiting Bhutan. The government should implement incentives to boost regional tourism,” the hotelier added.
To promote balanced tourism development across regions, the government has announced that the East-West Highway will be upgraded as part of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
According to the Socio-Economic Indicators report from the National Statistics Bureau, Bhutan welcomed 75,608 tourists between January and June this year. Of these, 23,100 were international tourists, and 52,508 were from India.
Data from the Department of Tourism shows that over 70 percent of tourists are Indian.
The government has also committed to opening borders and establishing entry and exit points for tourists at Nganglam, Gelephu, Samtse, Panbang, and Jomotshangkha.
Lyonpo said that discussions were underway regarding the opening of entry and exit points at additional border towns.
The previous government had also approved a motion in the National Assembly to open entry and exit points at Samdrupjongkhar, Gelephu, Samtse, Nganglam, and Panbang.