Hotel and Tourism Management Education in Bhutan: The Creation of the Royal Institute of Tourism and Hospitality

Abstract

The Kingdom of Bhutan is an isolated country that prides itself on culture, heritage, religion, the natural environment and the concept of Gross National Happiness (GNH) among others. GNH was introduced to the teaching curriculum in the year 2000 to increase the happiness and satisfaction of the people, rather than just focusing on monetary value or gain. Tourism plays an important role in being one of the main contributors to Bhutan’s gross domestic product (GDP) by utilising a unique visa tariff system in which international tourists pay a minimum of US$250 per day. In the past, exit studies conducted at the airport have highlighted the dissatisfaction of many tourists who were paying a high daily tariff and not receiving the perceived quality products or services anticipated by international travellers from developed societies. The government responded in 2004 by creating the Royal Institute for Tourism and Hospitality (RITH) and offering a Diploma in Hotel Management or Tourism Management and a Middle Management Programme to educate Bhutanese tourism and hospitality employees to meet western expectations and standards. Tourism education is currently delivered in Bhutan, rather than sending Bhutanese nationals to foreign countries for training. This chapter focuses on discussing the creation of RITH and highlights the future direction of tourism and hospitality education in the Kingdom of Bhutan.