The Thimphu Tshechu is a major tourist attraction, brining in hundreds of visitors from around the world.

As the visitors soak the rich offerings of the sacred festival, businesses starting from the national airline to hotels see a rise in their volume. If the color and the festivities of the tshechu is a draw for Bhutanese it also attracts hundreds of tourists from around the world.

The ongoing Thimphu tshechu attracted the attention of hundreds of tourists. Compared to last year the number of tourists attending Thimphu tshechu has increased according to Ap Phub Dorji, a regular Thimphu tshechu viewer.

Last year 1484 tourists came to Bhutan because of the Thimphu tshechu.

In fact according to the international tourism monitor report published by the department of tourism the Paro tshechu and Thimphu tshechu remained most popular.

The Paro tshechu in 2006 drew 1757 tourists. This year the Paro tshechu attracted 1755 tourists. While the exact number of tourists visiting Thimphu tshechu this time is not available, hotels and the kingdoms national carrier Druk air report high season bookings and business.

The tour operators who are doing thriving business this season are facing difficulties in accommodating their guests.

According to Sonam Jatsho, the managing director of Insider Bhutan, they discourage the tourists during the tshechu time since it gets over crowded.

Druk air is operating 13 additional flights to accommodate the increase in traffic and travel due to the tshechu season.

Tourism industry is one of the main sources of income for the government. According to the annual report of the department of tourism last year government earned more than 23 million US dollars from tourism industry.

More than 17,000 tourists visited Bhutan last year.

Tourism boosts handicraft and tailor business

Increased tourist arrivals are not only good news to the service industry. The ongoing Thimphu tshechu attracts tourists and this means better sales for the handicraft shops.

And the capital city’s tailors also see increase in work orders as urban Thimphu residents rush to get their tshechu attire tailored to match the color of the festive season.

Lungten Wangdi, the managing director of Handicraft Emporium says at this time, the daily earnings could be Nu. 300,000 to 500,000.

While the emporiums sell ready made items targeted at tourists, the tshechu season means that the scissors and the needles in the tailor shops see frantic actions.

While the work may be hectic, the month of the tshechu is a pleasant change for the tailors as they see a marked increase in the work orders that come to their shops. Source: BBS