The high end  hotels are coming more in Bhutan  so far the  Tourism Council of Bhutan has received 59 proposals from across the country to develop high end hotels in partnership with foreign investors.

Foreseeing a shortfall of highend hotel rooms in the country, especially in the east and south, the council had in December last year invited proposals for the establishment of highend hotels or resorts (3-star or above) in Bhutan.

The council has already identified land in Trashigang and Trashiyangtse in the east, Bumthang and Trongsa in the centre and Zhemgang in the south.

Out of 59 proposals, 33 came from the western region, 15 from central region, six from the east and five from the south.

Infrastructure development officer with the services division, Tashi Tenzin, said an international hotel, tourism and leisure consultant is also hired for technical support to shortlist and select the proposals after visiting the sites.

“The consultant will also develop feasibility report and market to find foreign investors,” he said.

They have inspected 38 proposals that were submitted from the west and central region, of which 11 from the west and four from the central are selected as feasible for investment.

They will be visiting the remaining 21 in the east and southern region soon. “This is to create room supply, since the shortfall of high-end hotel rooms were seen, especially in east and south,” he said.

The property should be three star or above in the east and south and four star or above in the west and centre.

Contracts between 15 interested proposers and the consultant have already been signed and they are marketing for investors.

“After getting an investor, the individual candidate will have to pay a minimal consultancy fee for the consultant,” Tashi Tenzin said, while the consultancy fees for feasible study and site inspection is paid by the council.

The interested developers will have to develop or upgrade their hotels or resorts above three stars and should be operational by the end of next year.

“But it isn’t so sure if all the selected proposals can get a foreign investor,” Tashi Tenzin said.

The identification and selection of sites proposed to develop the hotels are based on connectivity, amenities, proximity to new products proposed and scenic beauty.

Meanwhile, about 40,000 tourists have flown into the country until August.