First Steering Committee Meeting for Community-based Sustainable Tourism in Phobjikha

May 26, 2011 – The first steering committee meeting for the Community-Based Sustainable Project in Phobjikha was held on 18^th May 2011 at the Hotel Phuntsho Pelri in Thimphu. The project steering was established with representation from major stakeholder agencies which could significantly contribute to developing Phobjikha as a model community-based tourist destination.

The three and half year long project is supported by the Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF) under the grassroots cooperation program and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). It is a part of the Sustainable Livelihood program in Phobjikha that aims at developing a model community-based sustainable tourism destination which contribute to conservation of the natural environment, the protection of crane habitats, and conservation of its unique cultures. It also hopes to contribute socio-economic benefits for communities in rural Phobjikha.

The stakeholders in the committee include Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO), Nature Recreation and Ecotourism Division (NRED) under Department of Forests and Park Services, Guides Association of Bhutan (GAB), Gross National Happiness Commission (GNHC), Wangduephodrang Dzongkhag Administration, Phobjikha Environment Management Committee (PEMC), Royal Society for Protection of Nature (RSPN) and the Japan Environmental Education Forum (JEEF).

Reported by: Tshering Choki, RSPN