Thousands of regional tourists enter the country via Phuentshogling and the numbers have increased in the past few days. This has led to a shortage of tour guides for walk-in visitors and an extreme rise in the rates of guides, pushing some tourists to return.
Getting a guide for walk-in tourists at the Phuentshogling point of entry has become difficult in the past few days.
According to Bhutanese travel agents and taxi drivers, some guides are reportedly charging between Nu 4,000 and Nu 6,000 a day, and in some cases even more.
“Usually, the rate is Nu 3,000 per day. But today, they are charging us Nu 5,000 to 6,000 and some are even charging Nu 7,000. That’s why several guests have gone back,” said Kelzang Thinley, owner of Hungyal Tours and Travel Agent in Phuentshogling. “Getting a guide has become very difficult, and in some cases guides are asking us to give them the entire package, where they plan the entire tour including travel and accommodation.”
Taxi drivers say they are also affected. “Our biggest issue right now is the guide shortage,” said Duba, a taxi driver in Phuentshogling. He said that in some instances, even when guests agree to travel in their car, guides reject the vehicle and make their own package.
“I don’t know if this is in line with our existing rules and regulations. I request the tourism department to look into the matter,” he said.
The Department of Tourism’s registration for walk-in guests in Phuentshogling showed that only about 10 guides registered yesterday. Tourism officials have reportedly tried to group tourists together and arrange shared tour packages to address the shortage.
In one case, an Indian couple who had planned their trip through an Indian travel agent nearly 50 days ago could not proceed with their tour yesterday after arriving in Phuentshogling. Their agent reportedly told them a guide could not be arranged.
“We are supposed to reach Paro today but we could not move because we have not got our guide and driver details yet. The agent has been saying that they will give the details in five minutes, but it has been going on for hours,” said Bhaswati Seng Gupta, a tourist from India.
Tourism officials said they are looking into the matter. Yesterday evening, they published a public notification on temporary arrangements for tourists entering via Phuentshogling.
According to the notification, the mandatory guide-to-tourist ratio of one guide for 12 guests will be kept flexible until 15 November. The notification also said tourism officials in Phuentshogling have put in place other facilitation measures.
A few people also raised concerns over how some guides manage their assignments. They said some guides reportedly accompany tourists only up to the Bumpagang check post in Chhukha, leave them with the driver, and return to Phuentshogling to take another group.
Although tour details are maintained by tourism authorities, officials in Phuentshogling said verifying each guide’s movements can be challenging, as the process reportedly involves manual checks.
The Department of Tourism said it is aware of the issue and is reviewing it. BBS also wrote to the Guide Association of Bhutan and has yet to receive a response.
The situation has raised questions about guide availability, pricing practices and compliance with existing regulations. Travel agents and drivers are calling on the Department of Tourism to strengthen monitoring and clarify the rules governing tour guides and walk-in tourists.
Kinley Dem & Sonam Yuden
Edited by Phub Gyem
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