(Programme Updated 19th December 2009) The first ever Nomad Festival is to be held at Nasiphel, Bumthang (Wangchuck Centennial Park) for a period of three days from this Saturday, December 26th 2009. Nomads from Haa, Paro, Thimphu, Gasa, Wangduephodrang, Bumthang, Trashi Yangtse and Trashigang Dzongkhags will be participating in the festival (left picture shows some nomadic girls from Laya). The Hon'ble Minister of Agriculture, Lyonpo (Dr.) Pema Gyamtsho will be the Chief Guest.

Across the globe, in many developing countries, community based tourism is being promoted as one of the main ways to alleviate poverty. Examples range from bush walks and animal tracking offered by the Masai in Kenya to discovery trips organised by indigenous tribes in the Amazon of South America. Such schemes are often organised to include the conservation of biodiversity within their framework.

Global estimates for tourism puts its annual net worth at billions of dollars, of which an estimated 10% of the revenue is attributed to nature based tourism. There is however ongoing debate regarding equitable distribution of benefits from such ventures. More importantly, literature shows that – sometimes – communities do not draw significant benefits from such enterprises.

The tourism industry is the second largest foreign exchange earner for Bhutan. Notwithstanding the policy of “high value, low volume tourism”, there is great opportunity to expand Bhutan’s tourism sector: both in terms of services offered as well the number of tourist intakes. To enable the increase of tourist intakes, a major policy initiative has been the effort to diversify packages offered by Bhutan’s tourism industry. Comments from tourists, such as: “we are totally dzonged out!” have added urgency to this requirement. Particularly, focus has been accorded to make currently low tourist intake (off-season) months attractive to tourists. Towards this, leaders and policy makers have stressed the need for community based tourism programs. Drawing from experiences elsewhere, another policy concern has been the need to establish proper institutional and legislative framework to ensure that benefits from tourism reach a wider circle of stakeholders.

Brokpas from Merak-Sakteng doing a traditional dance

Experiments across the globe have demonstrated that these two parallel needs can be addressed by initiating community based tourism schemes. However, there is increasing awareness that modalities and mechanisms on how benefits should be shared will have to be carefully addressed right at the outset of any such initiatives. In Bhutan’s case, it must also be considered that such programs will have to compete with increasingly sophisticated packages offered elsewhere in the world. Branding Bhutan as the perfect tourist destination for any kind of visit should be given priority.

Despite opportunities to initiate such schemes, so far only few such initiatives have been implemented: the eco-tourism trail to Nabji-Korphu in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and Matsutake Festival in Ura under Thrumshingla National Park. However, the model is limited to community groups providing pottering and catering services.

This concept paper deals with a community based tourism proposal for Chhokortoe valley under Wangchuck Centennial Park through a nomadic festival for three days. Chhokortoe valley in Bumthang at an altitude of about 2800 masl is considered as one of the most scenic valleys in Bhutan. With many sacred religious sites and notable festivals, Chhokortoe is also one of the more popular valleys with tourists. Chhkortoe Valley is the exit point of popular snowman trek particularly through Dhur Tshachu.

Bhutan has been considered as a leader in biodiversity conservation in many ways. While we are proud of our conservation efforts, it is important for us and the world to appreciate the cost of conservation. Our alpine ecosystems are fragile where we have many nomadic populations starting with Lingshi in the west to Sakten in the east. So it is important for us to understand and appreciate the coexistence of rich nomadic culture in harmony with pristine alpine environment. The proposed nomadic festival will be a platform for guests/tourists to understand and appreciate the importance of such coexistence.

This initiative can fulfill three major objectives:

1.     At the national level, this venture will add to the diversity of tourist experiences and services offered by Bhutan’s tourism industry. This will help Bhutan compete successfully with other destinations across the globe. Further, this initiate could help to have tourists in off season distributing the cost and benefit of tourists spatially and temporally.

2.     At the local level, this will help supplement incomes for nomadic groups through sale of their livestock products; for local communities through homestays and catering services and for tour companies and local hoteliers from the lodging/food services for national and foreign visitors.

3.     It will also provide following opportunities:

(a)   Showcase the nomadic culture and heritage in real setting.

(b)   Showcase nomadic products of varied range and expose on monetary based business.

(c)   Take stock of nomadic socio-economic progress and development situation.

(d)   Promote income generation opportunities to nomads in their settings.

(e)   Showcase the technologies, programs and activities being initiated by different sectors that have potential for adoption and economically viable to the nomads at the places of their living.

(f)    Make the nomadic way of life economically and socially attractive for younger generation.

(g)   Provide an avenue bringing together all the highland farmers (herders and nomads) of different backgrounds for sharing of their culture, tradition and experiences.  

A traditional kitchen setting in a Brokpa home 

The first ever Nomad Festival at Nasiphel, Bumthang (Wangchuck Centennial Park)

Day-wise Program (Tentative)

December 25, 2009 (Day 0)

Reception of Chief Guest (At Gaytsa)

1. Dasho Dzongda Bumthang
2. CFO, WCP
3. All Sector heads
4. Bumthang Hotel Association representative 

1.     Exhibition

(a)   Yak show by NLPB, RLDC, Livestock sector-Bumthang & farmers

(b)   Livestock products from different nomadic groups.

(c)   Costumes from different nomadic groups.

(d)   Awareness campaign on post harvest of Cordyceps in Bhutan by AMS

(e)   Livestock diversity and development focusing on alpine livestock by NBC

(f)    Vaccination and Deworming schedule

(g)   Village Animal Health Worker by NCAH/RLDC, DLO-Bumthang

(h)   Feed and fodder development, an experience of Soi-Yaksa

(i)     Alpine fodder resource management by NFFDP

(j)     Protected Area System of Bhutan

(k)    Forests and its ecological functions

(l)     Food safety and Hygiene by BAFRA 

2.     Competition

(a)      Yak riding/race

(b)     Horse riding/race

(c)      Yak bull lassoing

(d)     Yak calf weight guessing

(e)      Yak milking

3.     Sports

(a)   Dego

(b)   Khuru

(c)   Archery in traditional bow

4.     Songs/Dances

(a)   Atleast 5 songs/dance from each nomadic group in their original costumes

(b)   Songs/dance from local schools

(c)   Songs/dance from local communities

(d)   Songs/dance from local entertainment clubs.

5.     Sale Counters

(a)   Yak products

(b)   Yak and horse saddle parts and transport bags

(c)   Promotional sale of fermented cheese from Merak and Sakten

6.     Food stalls

(a)   Unique cuisines from Lingshi, Laya, Lunana, Bumthang, Bomdeling, Sakten

(b)   Local home-made beverages

7.     Showcase Relavent Technologies

(a)   GID & Warble fly control measures by Parasitologist, NCAH

(b)   An overview of meat processing trail being initiated at Soi-Yaksa

(c)   Milk and products –local processing technology by DLO-Bumthang

(d)   Yak wool processing –local 

- For more information please email drai_bt@yahoo.com or contact the Wangchuck Centennial Park in Bumthang.

Festival Program

Note: Nagsephel is about 1 hr. drive (22 Kms. – feeder road) from Chamkhar

0830 hrs Arrival of Guests

0900 hrs Reception of Chief Guest with Chipdrel to the festival ground

0915 hrs Marchang Ceremony

0930 hrs Welcome Address by Director, DoF

0940 hrs. Welcome Address by Dasho Dzongdag, Bumthang

0955 hrs Welcome and short address by Hon’ble Minister, MoA

1010 hrs Key note address by the Chief Guest

1025 hrs Vote of thanks by CFO, WCP

1035 hrs Suja Desi

1100 hrs Opening of the Nomadic Festival by the Chief Guest and visit to all exhibitions and stalls including Yak Show and Dog (Jobchhi) Show

1145 hrs Cultural program by Students of Zhabjithang CPS, Nomadic groups, Dzongkhag Dancer, Local Drayangs, Musk dance, community group

1145 hrs Yak riding and horse riding program will start simultaneously based on the interest of the participants

1200 hrs Awarding of Certificates to the graduates on Basic Farmhouse/Hotel Management training by Honorable Chief Guest

1230 hrs Lunch Break

1300 hrs Yak Tsham, Cultural program and Mask dances

1330 hrs Yak bull lassoing and Yak calf weight guessing

1430 hrs Shoksum

1530 hrs Traditional Wrestling

1630 hrs Awarding of prizes to the winners of for Yak show, Wrestlers,

Yak calf weight guessers, yak bull lassoing

1645 hrs Cultural program by Chokhor community

1700 hrs Cultural program will continue by different groups

1800 hrs Show on RNR and will be organised by ICS

1900 hrs Official Dinner for all Guests

2000 hrs Show on RNR organised by ICS will continue

2030 hrs Close for the Day

0800 hrs Breakfast will be available in the stalls and home stays

0845 hrs Gathering of all the participants and ready for the day

0900 hrs All exhibitions and stalls will continue

0900 hrs Cultural programs - Musk dance and Yakcham program and stalls to be continued

0900 hrs Horse riding program will continue whole day based on interest of the participants

1000 hrs Degor program will start

1100 hrs Pillow fight program will start

1130 hrs Tea will be served (Cultural program will continue)

1200 hrs Lunch break

1300 hrs Khuru program will start

1330 hrs Weight carrying competition will start

1330 hrs Cultural program by Nomadic groups

1430 hrs Cultural program by local drayangs

1530 hrs Cultural program by Dzongkhag dancer

1600 hrs Awarding of prizes to the winners of the day’s events

1630 hrs Cultural program will continue by different groups

1800 hrs Show on RNR and will be organised by ICS

1900 hrs Break for the dinner

2000 hrs Show on RNR and organised by ICS will continue

2030hrs Close for the Day

0800 hrs Breakfast will be available in the stalls and home stays

0845 hrs Gathering of all the participants and ready for the day

0900 hrs All exhibitions and stalls will continue

0900 hrs Horse riding will continue

0930 hrs Archery in traditional bow will start

1000 hrs Quiz competition on Livestock and on Bio-diversity/protected Areas of Bhutan between Nomadic groups

1030 hrs Tug of War between guests and nomads

1200 hrs Lunch break

1300 hrs Awarding of prizes to the winners of the day’s event

1345 hrs Vote of thanks by the Chairperson –DYT Bumthang Dzongkhag/Gup Chhokor Geog

1400 hrs Tashi Lebey

1430 hrs Closing of the Festival

Thematic Activities:

December 28, 2009 (Day 3)

December 27, 2009 (Day 2)

December 26, 2009 (Day 1)