A two-day workshop on the theme “Eco-Tourism for Sustainable Development and Gender Empowerment in South Asia” began in Thimphu, today.
The workshop, organised by the Tourism Council of Bhutan and the South Asia Women’s Network (SWAN), saw participants from Bhutan, India, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Minister for Agriculture and Forests, Yeshey Dorji, who was Chief Guest at the event highlighted eco-tourism as an area of opportunity for Bhutan.
Lyonpo elaborated that eco-tourism would ensure environmental protection, cultural preservation, and socio-economic development, thus remaining true to the philosophy of Gross National Happiness.
Lyonpo shared that one of the key objectives of the Ministry in the current Five Year Plan is to promote eco-tourism in protected areas.
Currently, eco-tourists make up a very small percentage of the total number of tourists visiting Bhutan. Only 13 percent of the total number of tourists, who visited Bhutan this year, were eco-tourists.
Tourism was highlighted as a vehicle for gender equality and women’s empowerment. Lyonpo shared that women in developing regions are almost twice as likely to be employers in tourism as compared to other sectors. He added that Bhutan has a large number of women in the tourism industry holding important posts as well.
During the course of the workshop, case studies of successful eco-tourism projects were shared, and discussions on their sustainability and women’s empowered participation were also held.
The workshop was supported by the ICIMOD.
