With increased mobility following the easing of COVID restrictions in the country earlier this year, homestay businesses in the rural setting of Buli village in Zhemgang are beginning to mint money.
Buli village is home to some of the holiest sites in the country such as the Buli Tsho, the Dungkhar Nye, and the Chenrey Zi Drupchhu.
Thorchungla, 66, runs one of the seven home stays in Buli. The rooms have been furnished with contemporary furniture and the restroom with modern facilities.
Despite this, Thorchungla said he has attempted to give an authentic feel to his home-stay so that the visitors can enjoy an authentic holiday experience.
His business started to gain momentum over the last several months. He usually earns between Nu 15,000 to 20,000 per month. However, his earnings dwindle during the monsoon as it disrupts vehicular traffic.
“My guests are mostly domestic pilgrims coming to visit Buli Tsho and Dungkhar Nye and a few civil servants for the official trips. Since many are familiar with my homestay, I receive many clients,” shared Thorchungla.
Another home stay operator, Bulukpa also said he is receiving a good number of visitors, thereby thickening his wallet.
“This year, some 20 buses come here and visitors stayed at our home-stays. Business is good compared to almost two years ago,” he added.
Bulukpa charges Nu 900 per guest and this covers the accommodation and three meals. Projecting a swelling number of pilgrims in the near future, he is planning to professionalise his homestay.
“So, I am planning to employ a professional cook and a waitress for my homestay to cater to the increasing number of customers,” continued Bulukpa.
They are also banking on planned socio-economic development projects, expected to materialise in the coming years to upscale their homestay or staycation businesses.
“We have Bulichu Hydro Power Project coming up and the government has already planned to allow the foreign tourists to visit our place. So, we foresee more economic gains through our homestays,” added Thorchungla.
Since Buli Gewog has a huge potential to become a tourist hotspot, the gewog office is improving the entire existing public infrastructure.
“The ecotourism in the gewog is thriving and home-stays have come up at the right time. The gewog centre is located here and since we don’t have guest houses or hotels, visitors go to the home-stays for accommodation,” said Nangkor Gup, Singye Wangchuk.
Driven by spirituality, homestay operators and the people say it is the blessing of the Buli Tsho that they are enjoying economic prosperity.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Pema Lhaden
