Monggar aims to attract more than 5,000 tourists by next year, up from the over 2,000 tourists who visited the district last year. The target is outlined in the district’s new Tourism Action Plan, which focuses on promoting local attractions, improving tourism services and creating new experiences for visitors.
The plan identifies several key attractions, including a birding trail along the Trans Bhutan Trail from Latola to Zhonggar ruins in Saling Gewog, the sacred Aja Ney in Shermung Gewog, and fly fishing and river rafting at Yangbari.
The district also plans to introduce new tourism activities, including a gastronomic event called “Flavours of Monggar” and Enduro mountain bike trails.
Paras Adhikari, Economic Development and Marketing Officer in Monggar, said the district has already allocated funds for the festival, which is expected to begin next year.
“Starting next year, we will organise gastronomic events called Flavours of Monggar. We have already allocated funds for the festival. Next month we are collaborating with Pema Gatshel to organise the Bathing Carnival in Telung. With these events, improved services, and better itineraries, we are optimistic about attracting more tourists,” he said.
The Tourism Action Plan was developed over three days, bringing together the district’s local government team and other stakeholders.
It focuses on five key areas: identifying local attractions, strengthening governance and monitoring, improving tourism products and services, training service providers, and securing funding and partnerships.
Khampa, Project Management Specialist with the Handicrafts Association of Bhutan, said the initiative aims to develop strategies to attract tourists to individual districts and promote lesser-known tourism products and services.
“These national plans outline how to promote tourism across the country. Through this initiative, we aim to develop strategies to attract tourists to individual districts. During the programme, we have discovered many tourism products and services in the east that are not widely known,” Khampa said.
The initiative is being implemented in line with national development and tourism plans, including the 13th Five-Year Plan and the Bhutan Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2025-2034.
Tourism Action Plans are being developed for all six eastern districts. So far, plans for Lhuentse, Trashigang and Monggar have been completed. The plans are expected to be rolled out within the current financial year.
Once all six plans are completed, a regional Tourism Action Plan will be developed to promote eastern Bhutan as a tourism destination.
The Department of Tourism and the Voice for Green Change Partnership are jointly funding the initiative, with the Handicrafts Association of Bhutan and its partners leading the work.
Namgay Wangchuk, Monggar
Edited by Sonam Pem
