Reconstituted as autonomous authority

November 19 – Almost two years after it was established as a council, the tourism council of Bhutan (TCB) will finally function as a fully autonomous authority with nine new council members led by the prime minister and a restructured TCB secretariat.

The erstwhile department of tourism was renamed in February 2008 as TCB, and made the apex authority of tourism services and facilities, but it was still functioning as any other government department, according to a TCB secretariat official. “TCB was staffed by civil servants, and had very little decision-making and budgetary powers,” he said.

Prime minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley is the council’s chairperson with economic affairs minister Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk as the vice chairperson. The other council members are the agriculture and home ministers, GNH and land commission secretaries, secretary of foreign affairs ministry, president of Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry and the director general of TCB secretariat.

TCB secretariat’s spokesperson, Kinley Wangdi, said that the reconstituted council would bring some far-reaching changes to how TCB and its secretariat should function to ensure the tourism sector’s growth. “We have council members, who are heading various sectors, and therefore there will be better coordination among all relevant agencies. Becoming an autonomous authority would also mean speedy decision making,” he said.

For instance, he said, seeking clearance from agriculture ministry to develop a new campsite took months with no guarantee that a clearance would actually be granted. “The council, besides finalising national tourism development policies and strategies, will make speedy decisions on these issues and others regarding heritage sites, parks, protecting certain areas as tourist spots or identifying no-access sites or monuments, because the council has stakeholders as members,” he said.

Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, on November 13, sent an executive order to all ministries and authorities stating that TCB secretariat, which is currently staffed with civil servants, should have full time and contractual non-civil servant employees. “Everyone, starting from the director general to support staff, is a civil servant and therefore there’ll be restructuring within the secretariat,” said another official. “Most of us don’t know whether we’ll be made to resign and then continue work with the TCB secretariat or be transferred to some other government agency.”

The government’s target is to see an annual tourist arrival of 100,000 by the end of the 10th Plan.

Becoming an autonomous authority would also mean budget flexibility, according to officials. “For instance, when the flood in May this year washed away Gasa tshachu, we could’ve started repair and maintenance work immediately if TCB had budget,” said an official.

Spokesperson Kinley Wangdi said that the Tourism Bill, which will give legal backing to the council and the secretariat, would be discussed by parliament during the spring session in 2010. “The reconstituted council will still be guided by the draft bill,” he said. “The autonomous TCB and TCB secretariat will enhance efficiency and performance of tourism development activities in the country.”

source: kuensel