Guide Association of Bhutan

08/01/2025

𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐀𝐋 & 𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐊𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 (𝐍𝐂-𝐈𝐈𝐈)

To professionally upgrade, upscale and enhance tour guiding services has always been the core principle of Guide Association of Bhutan. In this regards, the association would like to invite interested Cultural Tourist Guides in upgrading their license to Cultural & Trekking (NC III). The training will be conducted as per the standards of the Bhutan Qualification and Professionals Certification Authority (BQPCA). The training will be for 64 days and will begin on 13th January,2025.

Those interested cultural tourist guide wishing to upgrade are requested to kindly register with GAB office.
For Registration, please contact 17790978 | 17239225 | 02-339864 during office hours.

GAB Secretariat

𝐒𝐂𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆:

Along with our rich culture, history, heritage sites and unmatchable scenic beauty, if there is anything that completes our unique tourism brands is the natural environment. Our country is blesses with abundant forest covers, nature parks, reserves and protected areas and; rich biodiversity. To further complement this, we also have great hiking trails, snowman treks, fishing spots, adventure tourism, nature-tourism, community tourism that compose the whole ecotourism aspect.

And after careful study on the statistics, we just have 334 Cultural & Trekking Tourist guides against a total of 2017 validated tourist guides. And this is also a clear indication that up gradation to Culture & Trekking, Sr. Tourist Guide and Tour leader is felt necessary.

𝟐. 𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 (𝐓𝐎𝐑)

2.1 A tour guide must hold Cultural Tour Guide license and it must be valid.
2.2 Candidate must attend the whole training duration of 64 days.

2.3 Candidates not fulfilling the clause 2.2 shall not be eligible to sit for the final assessment and therefore will not be eligible for the license up gradation.

2.4 During the whole course candidates must abide by the training rules and regulations (TRR) (TRR will be interpreted during the training)

07/01/2025

Greetings from the Department of Tourism!

I hope this email finds you well.

We are delighted to announce that SATTE 2025, Southeast Asia’s largest and most influential travel and tourism exhibition, will take place from February 19-21, 2025, at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi. This premier event is set to host over 2,000 exhibitors and attract more than 40,000 visitors globally, reaffirming its reputation as the leading platform for the international travel industry.

This year’s event will feature the innovative "+1" marketing campaign, exclusive activities, and strategic partnerships, further elevating its status as a must-attend gathering for travel and tourism professionals. Bhutan Tourism has secured a prime exhibition space in a high-traffic area of the show, providing an excellent opportunity for exposure and networking.

We are pleased to invite interested participants to register for this event. Please note that we can accommodate only 12 participants. In the event of receiving more registrations, a lucky draw will be conducted to finalize the selection.

Deadline for registration: 4pm, 10th January 2025.

Please register by sending email to [email protected] ONLY email registration will be accepted. Further details will be shared with registered participants after the registration deadline.

We look forward to your participation in making SATTE 2025 a successful and rewarding experience.


With best regards,
Department of Tourism - Bhutan

01/01/2025

Nyilo Felicitation

The Chairman, board directors, secretariat and all tour guides would like to wish happy Nyilo.

-GAB Secretariat.

26/12/2024

Invitations for the Celebration of Druk Thuksey

Dear Guides,

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating Druk Thuksey on 28th December at Changyul Park from 10:30 AM. Your presence will make this event truly special.

To make this celebration a grand success, we kindly request your support by a noble donation. Your generous contribution will support the expenses for the event.

We understand your keenness in witnessing this momentous occasion however; as the event comprises participants from all tourism sectors we just have 50 slots for guides. The registration will be done on first-come-first-serve basis through Google online form attached with this notification. Registration links
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1XAqGzqDh9HscLNJ73iXfuwrbapLc1U9lwaZ1b-3qqf0/edit

Donations can be made via mobile banking:
Bob: 200685156 (Sonam Youden) please send screenshot at whatsapp #17239225/17790978

We are delighted to invite you to join us in celebrating Druk Thuksey on 28th December at Changyul Park from 10:30 AM. Your presence will make this event truly special. To make this celebration a grand success, we kindly request your support by a noble donation. Your generous contribution will suppo...

16/12/2024

16/12/2024

𝗡𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗗𝗔𝗬 (𝑨 𝑷𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒍𝒍 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒆)

𝑻𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐 𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒓𝒚
𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒊𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒆 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆, 𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒄𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏
𝒂 𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒌𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒚
𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝑩𝒉𝒖𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒆

On the most historic occasion of the 𝟏𝟏𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲, the chairman, board directors, secretariat and all tour guides join the nation in offering our deepest felicitation.

May 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐤 𝐘𝐮𝐥 continue to thrive with peace, harmony, prosperity and happiness under the benevolent reign of our Majesty.

Palden Drukpa | Gyalo

05/12/2024

𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐑 (𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟎𝟓 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒)

“𝑽𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒉𝒖𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒇𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏'𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇𝒊𝒔𝒉 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈, 𝒑𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓”
- Erma Bombeck

On the 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫, the 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐚𝐧 would like to send this profound wish and gratitude to all the 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 in and across the globe and; in particular our 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬 who have shown their kindness, dedication and time for all the acts of greatness.

We are truly obliged to walk hand-in-hand in fulfilling the great visions set ahead.

- GAB Secretariat
Zero Waste Bhutan National Environment Commission Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan Department of Tourism, Bhutan Thimphu ThromdeGuide Association of Bhutan &culturaltraininginstitute

19/11/2024

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ahj43hPRG/?mibextid=WC7FNe

14/11/2024

𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗠𝗔𝗡 𝗟𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗨𝗔𝗚𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚

Greetings to all tourist guides.

𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 based in Jattu Building, 3rd Floor, Thimphu is providing A1 Level beginner German Language Course for Tourist guides. The module is specially designed for our tourist guides and it will be conducted during this lean season.

The session will be delivered by Dr. Ulli, a seasoned tutor with a Ph.D. from University College London and certification in German as a Foreign Language (GFL). Her years of teaching sills will definitely bring language proficiency and cultural insight into learning.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐬:
𝐀𝟏 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐬
Start Date: 2nd December
Mode: In person. 3rd floor, Jattuk Building, SabjiBazaar, Thimphu
Fees: Nu. 9000/- per month.
Duration: 3 months | 2.5 hours per session | 4 times a week (Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri)

𝐀𝟐 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥: 𝐏𝐫𝐞-𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞
Starts: TBD (Summer Lean Season)
Fees: 9000/- per month

Should any tourist guides be interested in learning or taking up this course you can register online through the following address given below:
Registration link (Google doc’): https://forms.gle/cGMPKHcpiH9JyM2p7

You can also join the WhatsApp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GmJ4cYcCruJ3SnxBNBKgCq

For further information contact RINCHEN TRAINING INSTITUTE
Jattuk Building, IIIrd Floor | SabjiBazaar| Thimphu Bhutan
Handphone: 1795-5918 | 7764-5477 | 1772-4423

10/11/2024

FELICITATION (November 11, 2024)

On the joyous occasion of the birth anniversary of The Great Fourth, which is also observed as the Gross National Happiness day, Constitution Day and Children's Day of the kingdom of Bhutan; the chairman, board directors, all tourist guides and the secretariat of the Guide Association of Bhutan would like to join the whole nation in offering our heartiest felicitation.

We would like to offer our prayers for our beloved 4th Druk Gyalpo's happiness, good health and long life.

Tashi Delek!

01/11/2024

CELEBRATING THE 16TH CORONATION DAY

In Commemoration of the 16th Coronation Day of our beloved His Majesty The King, the Guide Association of Bhutan along with waste enthusiasts carried cleaning programme this morning.

The programme began from the office parking lot covering the whole peripheral of Phendey Lam and the stretch of Doebum Lam, Thimphu.

We would like to thank all our stakeholders, partners and today’s volunteers who are tourist guide trainees from Zomla Institute, Thimphu.

GAB Secretariat.

01/11/2024

16 GLORIOUS YEARS

On the historic occasion of the 16th Coronation anniversary of His Majesty The King, the chairman, board directors, secretariat and all tour guides would like to offer our heartiest felicitation.

We join the entire nation in offering our prayers for His Majesty's happiness, joy and long life.

We truly are blessed under the benovalent reign of our beloved King.

Palden Drukpa | Lha Gyalo.

12/10/2024

FELICITATION (October 13 2024)

On the joyous occasion of the 13th Royal Wedding of Their Majesties, the chairman, board directors, secretariat and all tourist guides would like to extend our heartiest felicitation.

We offer our prayers and good wishes for the good health, happiness and long life of Their Majesties.

Tashi Delek

03/10/2024

𝐙𝐄𝐑𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐑 (𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 & 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒)

In response towards a better environment; and twining cohesively for a better societal behavior towards waste, the Guide Association of Bhutan along with waste enthusiasts observed zero waste hour yesterday.

The programme started along the stretch of the Ancient Takin Trail at Motithang, Thimphu. The group channeled the stream, cleared debris and collected huge pile of waste that was left scattered by the recent rainfall.

The month of September also saw young individuals who are currently undergoing tourist guide training participate in the programme. They along with the chairman of GAB picked trash and participated in providing waste advocacy in Changzamtog, Thimphu.

𝙕𝙚𝙧𝙤 𝙒𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙧 – 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙝𝙡𝙮 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙞𝙨 𝙤𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 2𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙙𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙞𝙢𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙘𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 𝙗𝙮 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙨𝙝 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙘𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙣. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚-𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙞𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙖 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙨𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮.

We would like to thank all our volunteers, partners and stakeholders in the course of the programme.

GAB Secretariat

Zero Waste Bhutan National Environment Commission Thimphu Thromde Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan Department of Tourism, Bhutan Guide Association of Bhutan

27/09/2024

WORLD TOURISM DAY 2024
-Tourism and Peace'

Today marks a great milestone as the entire Bhutanese tourism fraternity celebrated World Tourism Day. The theme for this year is 'tourism and peace'

Coinciding with today's event, the Department of Tourism launched 'Tourism App' and 'Tashel ZoomDu' a virtual platform for tourism insights and dialogue.