|
Bhutan
Country Information
|
 |
Bhutan Information |
|
Bhutan Information |
|
|
 |
| Promoting
white water sports: Canoeing, rafting and kayaking |
Of
the hundreds of tourists that visit Bhutan every year a handful come to
kayak and raft in the Bhutanese rivers. Unofficial records indicate that
between 20-50 tourists come for the river adventure which is packaged together
with trekking and sight seeing in spring and in autumn seasons when the
rivers are stable. A relatively new adventure sport in Bhutan which the
department of tourism has been promoting and exploring since 1997, Bhutanese
river systems provide a huge potential for canoeing, rafting and kayaking
according to tourism officials. |
|
 |
A
survey of Bhutanese rivers done with the help of professionals from other
countries found that each valley has a river and some sections are ratable
and most can be kayaked.
 |
| Mochhu
near Punakha |
Sections
of the Pochu and Mochu rivers in Punakha, the Dangchu in Wangdue the Mangdechu
in Trongsa the Chamkarchu, Durchu and the Tangchu in Bumthang and Tangmachu
in Lhuentse can be rafted and kayaked.
One
private tour company, Lotus Adventure run by Sonam Tobgay has been instrumental
in promoting and pioneering white water sport in Bhutan. |
|
But
numbers have remained small from the lack of advertising funds and the
highly specialised nature of the sport according to Sonam Tobgay. "World
class equipment is expensive and the safety is paramount."
The
sport might soon receive a boost through the Bhutan Canoe Federation which
was launched last month in Thimphu with the approval from the Bhutan Olympic
Committee.
| Information on Bhutan |
 |
top
| Assembly
bans sale of tobacco in Bhutan |
| Sale
of tobacco is now officially banned throughout Bhutan according to a decision
taken by the 82nd session of the National Assembly on August 12, 2004 The
Assembly also resolved on levying a 100 percent duty on tobacco brought
into the country for personal consumption. The decision to ban tobacco
sales was taken during the ratification of the WHO convention on the Tobacco
control by the National Assembly. Officially, sale of tobacco is already
banned in 18 of the country's 20 dzongkhags although it is still available
in the black-market at much higher prices. The government had also increased
taxes on tobacco products from 10 to 50 percent to control tobacco us.
The sale of imported cigarettes from duty free shops was banned earlier
this year. |
|
