Bhutan Birding and Heritage Travels

A short but busy season in Geleph

24 January, 2010 - It is a flourishing time of the year for businesses in Gelephu, as the otherwise quiet town, becomes a rendezvous for commercial activities.

Businessmen from Dagana, Zhemgang and a few from Thimphu come to meet their suppliers from the neighbouring and other parts of Indian states. Parents and children from Dagapela and Tingtibi visit the town to shop for garments for their children and other household requirements. Government officials come to attend or conduct workshops away from Thimphu’s winter chill.

Karma, a Dagana contractor said he drove all the way to Gelephu, once every few months to fetch his construction materials from Indian suppliers. Duptho, a corporate employee from Tingtibi, about 20 kilometres from Gelephu, said she frequented the town to buy yarn and other apparels, which were unavailable or too expensive in Tingtibi.

Hoteliers providing food and lodges and local garment shops look forward to this influx and they benefit the most. B K Rai, who has been running a hotel for the last 12 years in Gelephu, said his business was best during the three months between January and March.

“I earn about Nu 6,000 a day in winters, double of what I make in summers,” B K Rai said. Of the 16 rooms in his hotel, he said, he was lucky to have at least two filled during summer. “My summer earnings make up for the losses in winter because of which there is very little to save.”

He said Indian businessmen made up only 5 percent of the total number of visitors to Gelephu, and spent only a day, unlike many Bhutanese who make up a majority and spend between three days to a week. Foreign tourists are nonexistent.

“Officials from agriculture, finance, health and forestry ministries normally attend or conduct workshops in winters here,” restaurant owner Gyem Tshering said. Catering services, he said, helped make additional income, during such occasions.

Ugyen who also owns a hotel said although they made about Nu 15,000 profit in winters, they were bound to lose that during summers as they had to pay their staff whether there was business or not, clear electricity bills while cost of vegetables soared.

“This year, however, we’ll be a little comfortable because the trade fair helped generate a little more,” he said. A garment shop owner, Suresh, who has been in Gelephu for almost 40 years looks forward to the approaching end-of-winter break. “That particular time my sales increase up to Nu 700,000,” he said. “Students from Dagana, Damphu and Zhemgang buy their school uniforms from here.”

Gelephu residents and business owners believe that there will be unprecedented business explosion once construction of the mega hydro projects and the planned international airport begins. “We have pinned our hopes on these projects, especially the international airport,” said Gyem Tshering. “I hope it’s not just another plan on paper.”