Marking World Tourism Day, the Department of Tourism launched a new edition of the Druk Neykor Pilgrimage Guide yesterday. They also awarded ‘Friends of Tourism’ badges to the key industry associations in the capital. The initiatives reflect the Department’s continued commitment to promoting sustainable, inclusive, and culturally enriching travel experiences across Bhutan.
The Druk Neykor initiative was first launched in 2020 in Thimphu. It covers 16 sacred sites designed to promote spiritual and cultural tourism.
The new edition consolidates all five previous volumes into a single, compact booklet and features a checklist of all 108 sites, a simplified map, and space to collect official stamps. Each site features colour photos, brief descriptions, and QR codes for more information. It is free for all pilgrims and designed to be easy to use.
A recognition scheme will also be introduced to honour pilgrims who visit all 108 sites.
“For example, if somebody completes all the 108 sites and they get the stamp, the department would like to recognise them by rewarding some kind of prizes and even certificates. Even if somebody covers whole sites in one particular district, for that also we are thinking of rewarding them,” said Tashi Tenzin, the chief of the Department of Tourism.
In addition, the Department of Tourism formally presented the ‘Friends of Tourism’ badges to key partners from the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators, the Hotel and Restaurant Association and the Guide Association of Bhutan. The badges were given to the board members of these associations as a recognition of their commitment to responsible and collaborative tourism development.
“We want to enhance the coordination and collaboration, and also share some of our responsibilities with our industry partners. Our objective is to promote tourism in Bhutan together,” said Tashi Tenzin.
According to the Department of Tourism, the initiative aims to enrich visitor experiences, boost domestic travel, encourage repeat international visits, and promote balanced tourism development across all regions
Namgay Wangdi
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
