To expand Bhutan’s tourism market and highlight the country as a premier travel destination, the tourism department will host the Bhutan International Travel Mart, or BITM, this June. The event will bring together hotels and travel agencies among others to showcase their products and services to potential international partners. To support this, a website for registration and proper facilitation of the event has been launched.
Hundreds of global travel agents are expected to attend the event.
National exhibitors, such as airlines, hotels, tour operators, and tourism related associations, will showcase their services and benefits to buyers during the event.
Dawa Yangchen, media focal of the Department of Tourism said, “This is a central hub for buyers, international buyers, Bhutanese exhibitors, and the general public, where they can get information about the event, including the venue, schedule, and registration. But going forward, we will be able to enhance and we will be improving this website with comprehensive information about the event.”
The travel mart will be an annual event where Bhutan’s tourism industry can sell Bhutan as a high-value destination to the world with its unique offering and authenticity.
Namgyal Dorji, Industry, Commerce and Employment Minister said, “We will look forward to promoting and giving a special platform for GMC, and then gradually, through the diamond strategy, over the next 10, 15, 20 years, once GMC is established, from financial services to aviation, logistics, IT, medicine, and more, tourism will be one part of it. By then, our BITM would have gained its own name and brand, so that when we have both BITM and GMC, we will be catering not just to Bhutan, but to the region, the subcontinent, and globally.”
Board Director of ABTO Karma Wangdi said, “300 plus travel agents will come to Bhutan. They will return with good words about Bhutan. June has always been considered an off-season for the tour operators. This BITM will make June very vibrant and show that it is not off-season.”
The travel mart will be held in Thimphu for three days.
The travel mart is supported by Economic Stimulus Programme for the betterment of tourism industry.
Singye Dema
