A lot of tourists travel through Chhukha to the country’s tourist hotspots in the neighbouring districts. But in terms of tourists visiting the district, the number remains negligible. So, to reverse this trend and turn it to the district’s advantage, Chhukha’s first Tourism Action Plan was released, yesterday.
The five-year Action Plan puts Chhukha on the path to transformation – from a transit point to a preferred tourist destination.
According to officials, in 2019, more than 55 per cent of the total tourist arrivals entered the country through Phuentshogling. But the district received only around four per cent of the arrivals that year.
With the plan, sustainable eco-tourism opportunities in the district will be explored. Multiple trekking routes will be developed and the Tourism Council also recommended rafting in the lower parts of Wangchhu and Amochhu.
“Few of the activities to carry out as part of the tourism plan are the development of Jigmechhu ecotourism, cycling trail to Phaktshodhing, development of hiking trail from Dagala Lake till Chapchha and promotion of hot stone baths and village home-stays in Bjabchho, Dungna, Maetabkha and Darla Gewogs. We also have similar plans for Phuentshogling and Sampheling Gewogs,” said Sangay Thinley, a Sr. Economic Development Officer at Chhukha.
Chhukha also has the potential to serve as a winter destination for tourists, both international and domestic. The warmer parts of the district are already gaining popularity among Bhutanese as a spot to spend their winters.
“We have made it mandatory for every gewog to have a tourism product. And all the products are listed in the Action Plan,” said Sherub Dorji, Sr. Dzongrab of Chhukha.
At the moment, the identification of ecotourism sites and the development of new trekking routes are ongoing. The overall project is estimated to cost around Nu 72 M.
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) financially supported the drafting of the Action Plan as part of its Kanchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative. In 2018, the office financed a similar project for Haa.
Sonam Wangdi
