Dechen Dolkar

Despite their stunning beauty, rich cultural heritage, and abundant trekking opportunities, the eastern dzongkhags are yet to reap the benefits of tourism, which is unevenly concentrated in a few dzongkhags in the west.

In a move to spread out tourism across the country, the Department of Tourism (DOT) is implementing a USD 4.854 million project to develop and promote ecotourism in four eastern dzongkhags of Trashiyangtse, Trashigang, Mongar, and Lhuentse, including Zhemgang in central Bhutan.

This project, funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme, began in 2021 and is slated to run until 2026.

The Project Manager from the Department of Tourism, Tashi Tenzin, said that the project integrates biodiversity conservation with tourism development.

“This is a long-term strategy to mitigate threats to biodiversity while also generating sustainable conservation financing and livelihoods for people within and outside protected areas, facilitating human-wildlife coexistence,” he said.

He added that the project will address the negative impacts of tourism on Bhutan’s socio-cultural heritage, positioning the country as a model ecotourism destination.

The project will develop several key ecotourism products in the east.

The Ludlow’s Bhutan Glory Trail, located within the Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary, will promote butterfly tours along this ancient expedition routs and sightings of Black-necked cranes at a Ramsar site through upgraded trails.

Pilgrimage sites like Singye Dzong and Aja Ney will feature bio-cultural trails. The project also plans to develop homestays, campsites, and local enterprises to boost domestic tourism in the east and aid post-COVID tourism recovery.

The high-end birding trails from Sengor to Yongkola—a renowned birding hotspot in Asia, and the Latongla–Zhongar trail, will be enhanced with birding decks, visitor facilities, and local enterprises.

The DOT will also enhance the Yangbari-Manas rafting and mahseer fly-fishing experiences along the mahseer migratory route with new campsites and enterprises,  with co-financing from the dzongkhag and private sector.

Trails like Jomo-Panda, which traverse the habitat of the endangered red panda and sacred mountains within Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary, will be upgraded with campsites and wildlife watchtowers, supported by Bhutan for Life.

The Golden Langur Trail, located along the Zhemgang highway, will focus on the conservation of golden langur habitats in partnership with WWF-International Climate Initiative. This initiative will feature wildlife viewing and habitat conservation efforts.

The community-based birding and butterfly tours in Berti will promote youth-led birding tours along a hotspot that includes the endangered white-bellied heron. Campsites and community-owned enterprises will be established.

Hornbill and nuthatch trail located along the Dakpai-Tali route trail will feature birding tours, birding decks, campsites, and community-owned enterprises.

The project will establish campsites and community-owned enterprises for biodiversity immersion trail along the Tingtibi-Manas route, traversing sub-tropical forests for wildlife sightings.

The project manager said that these initiatives aim to develop the eastern regions as prime ecotourism destinations while promoting biodiversity conservation and supporting local communities.