1. With travel on the rise, why is Bhutan the best short-haul international destination from India?
Ans. The kingdom of Bhutan has always been a preferred destination among travellers who are keen on exploring off beat destinations which often has a unique appeal to the Indian travellers. The proximity to India hasn’t rid Bhutan off the intrigue it has built among the Indian travellers for its offerings including the greenscapes of the Himalayan ranges and the rich cultural legacy. The two Marriott properties, Le Meridien Paro and Le Meridien Thimphu, both have consistently recorded Indians to be the largest share of guests, close to 50 to 55 per cent with the rest consisting of a mix of guests from across the globe. The trend witnessed over the years have been a testament of the preference India has built for Bhutan as the preferred short haul tourist destination.
2. As Bhutan opens its borders to international travellers, the country will see an influx of Indian tourists considering its proximity to India. What is your take on that?
Ans. Bhutan has been one of the last countries to reopen its international borders which also puts it in an interesting spot of advantage, with a growing fatigue among Indian travellers for the other short-haul destinations. Bhutan as a destination has the potential to play out marvellously at this juncture. While the influx of Indian tourists would surely be a more gradual process, but it would be prudent that we keep ourselves prepared and ready to welcome tourists post the two-year hiatus. The country is anticipating a healthy return of tourists wherein India and the South Asian markets continue to be a prime focus in this respect.
3. How are both hotels prepping to welcome international travellers back after over two years of hiatus?
Ans. The idea is to get back into business stronger than ever. The two-year gap owing to the pandemic, however challenging, did give us a chance to recuperate and realign ourselves better with the current priorities. The focus remains to ensure travellers are welcomed back to the hotel in a manner that also best reflects how well the Bhutan hospitality industry has bounced back from the visible lull in the tourism space. With more robust teams and enhanced service offerings, both hotels have essentially further polished themselves powered by the fervour to be a major player in the region contributing to the speedy recovery of international travel.
5. Since, Bhutan has finally opened it’s borders for international travel, how is Marriott looking at maximising the potential for growth with the reopening?
Ans. There is a visible excitement among the travellers with respect to Bhutan. Even with the two-year closure the queries and requests that we received from across geographies about Bhutan was indicative of the larger interest the market holds especially among travellers from India in particular and the subcontinent in general. The reopening finally gives us an opportunity to get back in business in full swing and offer the best of Bhutanese hospitality to the travellers. The break came as the right push for us to take a step back and make the most of the reopening where guests get to experience the rejuvenated spirit of Marriott hospitality.
6. With destination weddings and MICE on the rise in the subcontinent, how lucrative is Bhutan as a market?
Ans. One of the major advantages with Bhutan as a destination are the green landscapes and stunning visuals that continue to be appealing to the travellers in the region. The Himalayan backdrop and the serene environment are natural luxuries which only few destinations can boast of which makes Bhutan one of the most ideal destinations in terms of weddings, corporate and leisure travels. The segment of travellers who’ve developed a preference for short haul destinations find Bhutan to be just the perfect mix of convenient yet premium in it’s offering.
4. Where do you see yourself taking the brand in the next 3-5 years?
Ans. The aim is to continue to make efforts to transform the face of luxury hospitality in the region which has forever displayed the potential to be one of the most exciting short haul destinations with the “quick getaway” culture on the rise. The growing appetite among travellers for unexplored destinations makes this an opportune moment to ensure the brand accelerates the momentum with which Bhutan is moving towards, becoming one of the leading leisure destinations in the South Asian market.
