Convertible Currency Earnings
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KUENSELTHAT THE PEOPLE SHALL BE INFORMED MONDAY, MAY 18, 2020 Druk Gyalpo’s Smoke in Thimphu despite 1188 border closure GLOBAL COVID-19 Younten Tshedup SITUATION Tshering (name changed) runs from one shop to an- other along Norzin Lam in 4,723,001 Thimphu. Desperate, he is CONFIRMED CASES comparing the price of ciga- rettes. With the border gates closed in response to the New home atmosphere: Families take a break after they finish inspecting the 1,812,721 Covid-19 pandemic, import of any non-essential com- RECOVERED modity has become difficult. However, tobacco products continue to be available in 313,268 the market, despite the strict ban imposed. DEATHS Even before the pan- demic and closure of the border entry points, tobacco Convertible products were readily avail- High risk able. countries However, what has changed is the exorbitant currency USA 1,507,773 rate charged on tobacco. A Spain 276,505 stick of Wills Navy Cut now Italy 224,760 costs anywhere between Nu 40-50 in Thimphu which earnings hit UK 240,161 means a packet costs Nu 400 France 179,365 to Nu 500. A double packet Germany 176,244 (20 sticks) Wills Classic MB Subba year. this year, tourism generated Iran 118,392 costs Nu 1,000. From January 15 to a gross receipt of USD 10.14 Prior to the pandemic, a t looked like the coun- March 16, about 1,960 tour- million (M), according to packet of Wills Navy Cut cig- try was set to have ists cancelled their visa to TCB reports. Last year, tour- arettes was sold around Nu one of the best years visit Bhutan. ism generated a total gross 120 to Nu 150 in Thimphu. in tourism after the The year 2019 saw a total receipt of USD 88.63M from Lonely Planet in Octo- of 315,599 tourists visit Bhu- the MDPR paying (interna- Cases in the Where is the tobacco Iber 2019 recognised Bhutan tan, which is a 15.14 percent tional tourists) arrivals, a region coming from? as the number one travel des- increase compared to 2018. 3.77 percentage change as Police have apprehended tination for 2020. What hap- The impact of the Covid- compared to 2018. India 90,927 many attempting to smuggle pened is just the opposite. 19 pandemic is also expected As per the annual tour- Singapore 28,038 in tobacco products in the Last year in the first to hit the country’s convert- ism revenue growth rate, the Bangladesh 20,995 border areas. Despite the quarter, from January to ible currency reserve as the gross receipt from the MDPR Thailand 3,028 multiple arrests and seizure, March, 12,786 tourists had Tourism Council of Bhutan paying arrivals was estimat- Nepal 291 there seems to be no short- visited Bhutan. The number (TCB) forecasts that Bhutan ed to hit almost USD 92 mil- age of tobacco products in dropped by almost half. Only is unlikely to see arrivals lion in 2020. This means that the capital. 6,624 tourists visited Bhutan until the next year. with the closure of tourism, Pg 2 in the first quarter of this In the first quarter of Pg 2 Source: The Straits Times, ANN As of May 17, 2020 HOME PAGE 2 Monday, May 18, 2020| KUENSEL Government to repatriate 639 Bhutanese from the Middle East Thinley Namgay Kuwait-Bahrain. road transport. tries are closed at present and The notification states In the first phase, 880 Lyonpo said that there there was no opportunity to that the lockdown measures Foreign Minister Dr Tandi Bhutanese returned home, were still 12,759 Bhutanese shift from one airport to an- need to be implemented for a Dorji said that the govern- followed by 1,017 and 563 in in 70 countries. “Seventy of other. If the airports resume, longer period in India to con- ment would arrange five re- the second and third phase, them from Canada and the the government will help,” tain the Covid-19 pandemic. patriation flights in the fourth respectively. USA have expressed their Lyonpo said. NDMA had also directed phase to bring back 639 Bhu- After completing the wish to come back to Bhutan.” Meanwhile, the National its National Executive Com- tanese from the Middle East. fourth phase (May 24-June Lyonpo said that the only Disaster Management Au- mittee (NEC) to issue notifi- Starting May 24, three 1), 3,099 Bhutanese will have method to bring back the thority (NDMA) of India has cations in the guidelines as flights will be send to Ku- returned home. citizens was to send the direct directed all the ministries, de- necessary, keeping in view wait, one to Dubai (United According to the foreign flight and government was partments, state governments the need to open up economic Arab Emirates) and another minister, 4,348 Bhutanese discussing with the embassies. and authorities to extend the activities while containing the one to Kuwait and Bahrain. have returned so far from 28 “We don’t have a problem lockdown until May 31. Covid-19. The flights will evacuate 398 countries, including those to bring back Bhutanese from Bhutanese from Kuwait, 131 who came through charted USA and Canada, but most of from Dubai, and 110 from flights, special flights, and the airports in other coun- Convertible currency Smoke in Thimphu despite border closure earnings hit From Pg 1 dence of the crime and have to await the judgment from the From Pg 1 13,902 Sources told Kuensel that Tourism Employment due to the lockdown in India court. the country will lose about USD 11,995 Estimate and closure of entry points, the BNCA officials said that 82M in convertible currency tobacco products in circula- regular surveillance to check from tourism. 9,060 tion could be those that are for open smoking is underway The government hopes that 6,650 confiscated by authorities. across the country. the country will receive more 4,770 “We have heard that there Foreign Minister Dr Tandi foreign assistance to make up 4,462 are a few shops that sell ciga- Dorji said, “Selling of tobacco for the loss of convertible cur- rettes legally. These cigarettes is banned in Bhutan by Act and rency from tourism. are those seized by authorities it is impossible for the govern- An official from the prime and instead of burning them, ment to give any permission minister’s office at a recent Tour Guide TCB Budgets Restaurants Others Operators certifed Hotel they are now allowed to sell for the legal sale of tobacco.” press briefing said that devel- Hotels Sources: TCB given the shortage,” according Lyonpo said that the illegal opment partners had come to a source. sale of tobacco has been going forward to assure more as- product development. edged and appreciated that However, officials from on for a while and that the sistance to help Bhutan cope A total of Nu 97 million has TCB’s efforts but felt that the the Bhutan Narcotics Control government is aware of it. “In with the situations created by been allocated for the training current plans and progammes Authority (BNCA) denied the recent times there have been the pandemic. and re-skilling programme, for were not satisfactory. allegations on the assumed increased illegal activities Officials from TCB recently which 1,412 have confirmed The committee’s chair, Dorji legal sale of tobacco. and we are trying our best to presented the tourism situation their participation. But the pro- Wangdi, said that some of the Officials said that the sale prevent any illegal smuggling report to the joint parliament gramme has been deferred due programmes being undertaken of tobacco products in Bhu- mainly because of Covid-19.” committee on Covid-19 pre- to social distance reasons. by TCB were not in keeping tan is prohibited by law and He said that more than paredness. According to TCB, travel will with the government’s stand- those available in the market tobacco, the priority is to pre- The TCB reported that the fundamentally change and the ing statement of focusing on two are illegal. vent the spread of Covid-19 government has allocated a sector will not resume as it was things in tourism sector: skilling An official explained that through such illegal activities. total of Nu 220.4M as the tour- before. programmes and development any controlled substances in- “We understand the problem ism stimulus package for train- TCB estimates that the of new tourist amenities. cluding tobacco products that and our legislative commit- ing and gainful engagement of closure of tourism has affected He said that there was no are confiscated by authority tee chairperson is also well affected people from the sector. the livelihoods of about 50,000 regional distribution as all are all incinerated (burned). informed on this. We will see According to TCB, a total of people in hotels, handicrafts, programmes were still concen- He said that according to the how we can amend the law to 2,512 people have confirmed airlines and transport among trated in current top five tourist- standard operating procedure make it more practical.” their participation in various other businesses. rich dzongkhags. (SOP), after the products are Meanwhile, those who activities under the stimulus The TCB hopes that arrivals “The current stimulus pro- seized they are stored in the sell tobacco said that there is programme. If the number of will start from January next year. grammes are largely traditional authority’s warehouse and re- a shortage of supply, which candidates remains the same The TCB estimates that Bhutan and there are no innovative main locked.