Restaurant and hotel owners of Panbari in Tading Gewog of Samtse are urging authorities to allow regional tourists and day visitors to explore beyond the Ammo Chhu bridge. They are seeking authorization to allow the visitors to explore up to Panbari. Currently, regional tourists are only allowed till the Ammo Chhu bridge. This, they say, has left businesses missing out on potential customers.
Every day, around 20 to 30 regional tourists or day visitors, mostly from nearby Indian towns visit Ammo Chhu bridge, take pictures, and then go back.
Locals believe that lifting the restrictions and allowing visitors to explore beyond the bridge would help the already struggling businesses.
They say Panbari which is located a few kilometres from the Ammo Chhu would serve as a good tourist attraction.
“If regional tourists can come to Panbari, they will find a special place. We have a waterfall by the road, and Panbari is on a hill with clean air. Tourists will like it here, and it would help us make more money,” said Jit Bdr Ghalley, a restaurant owner in Suntaley.
Yadav Chhetri, also a restaurant owner said, “We see around ten to fifteen Indian tourists come to the Ammo Chhu bridge every day. If they can go further, it would help us. They might check out some shops along the highway and buy things. Right now, our business is not doing so well.”
“It would be great if they are allowed till Panbari. Our business isn’t doing well because there are not many cars travelling along this route these days. If tourists are allowed, they might visit our restaurant while travelling and help us earn a good income,” said Dawa Dolma, who also runs a restaurant.
According to the Immigration Rules and Regulations of the Kingdom of Bhutan 2023, no foreigner shall enter or pass through designated immigration areas, unless authorized by an immigration officer. A foreigner shall be required to obtain a route permit to travel to places not specified in his or her immigration permit.
Currently, day visitors can come to Bhutan for 24 hours and move within designated zones in districts or towns. In Samtse, visitors are allowed to go up to Gurung Basti, Salshing and Budhuney.
While many day visitors from nearby bordering towns enter Samtse frequently, no tourists from other parts of India or other countries have visited the district since the border gates reopened in September 2022.
Passang Dorji, Samtse
Edited by Sangay Chezom
