[ad_1]
… First Bangladeshi tourists visit GMC with SDF discount
Rapa Quindlen
GALAP — Raisa Islam Aishy, a 23-year-old Bangladeshi tourist, remains inspired by the prospect of the planned GALAP Mindfulness City (GMC) and the opportunity to witness the transformation of the effort firsthand.
She had been on a five-day holiday in Bhutan along with her cousins Nishat Tasnim, 24, and Anika Ibnat Haque, 22. The three adventurers from Mohammadpur in Dhaka were the first Bangladeshi tourists to explore the GMC.
Raisa Islam Aishy is an Electrical and Computer Engineering student at the University of Toronto, Canada, Nishat Tasnim is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Engineering, and Anika Ibnat Haque is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at BRAC University, Bangladesh.
Although their stay in Gelepu was short, only one night on June 5, they were deeply impressed by their experience.
The visionary Gelepur Special Administrative Region (GeSAR) has inspired enthusiasm among local residents and even young people from neighboring countries before implementing development activities.
For Raisa Islam Aishy, the GMC sounded like a rare opportunity to witness Bhutan’s development firsthand. “We had heard about the GMC project, which was designed by the king. As young Bangladeshi girls, we wanted to follow the GMC’s lead and see how we could benefit from it in the future,” she said.
She believes that GMC is a unique city that will bring benefits to Bhutan, especially in terms of tourism. “The new Gelephu International Airport will accommodate multiple airlines and facilitate tourists from other countries. The project will also put Gelephu in the international spotlight,” she said.
“Our experience in Gallup is very different compared to other cities. It feels very safe here and the people are friendly, humble and helpful,” said Raisa Islam-Aish, who described Gallup as a quiet, clean and green town, just as they imagined.
A highlight of the trip was the opportunity to meet with former Prime Minister Dr. Dasau Lotay Tshering to learn about His Majesty’s vision for the GMC. The former Prime Minister is based in Gelephu and assists His Majesty in implementing the GMC’s development activities.
They said the journey from Paro to Geleph was bumpy but worth it because they experienced some scenery they had never seen before.
SDF Reduction Initiative
The cousins are the first tourists to benefit from the reduction in the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) for tourists from around the world announced by the Bangladesh government on June 2. The fee was reduced from $100 per person per night to $15, which is comparable to the fee levied on Indian tourists.
The young students, who thanked the government for implementing a cheaper SDF system and used mostly their savings for this trip, said the reduction in SDF played a key role in their overall enjoyment of their trip in Bhutan.
“With the SDF discount, we can spend the money on other activities and expenses, such as rafting, horseback riding at Tiger’s Nest Monastery, and buying Bhutanese handicraft souvenirs for friends and family,” said Raisa Islam Aishy.
Asked if the reduction in Bhutanese self-defence fees justifies their visit to Bhutan, she said: “This new move will encourage many other tourists to visit Bhutan as it will significantly reduce their overall expenses and make vacations more affordable.”
Inspired by their parents’ adventurous travel stories of visiting Bhutan in 2019 and 2023, they chose to travel with their cousins.
“Bhutan is not as popular as other places as a tourist destination. But Bhutan has a lot to offer and anyone who has not put this place on their bucket list is definitely missing out,” said Raisa Islam Aish.
They flew to Dhaka from Paro International Airport on June 8 and wanted to share this with the people of Bhutan, “The people of Bhutan are very friendly, respectful and welcoming. We have learned a lot from your traditions, customs and culture, which we hope to bring back home.”
[ad_2]
Source link
