PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism Conference and Mart 2012 (AT&RTCM 2012)

February 3 - 7, 2012

Zhiwa Ling Hotel

Paro, Bhutan

QuickFacts

Venue: The PATA Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism and Mart 2012 will be held in the historic town of Paro in the south west of Bhutan.  Below is the venue's location.

Zhiwa Ling Hotel
Satsam Chorten, Paro, Kingdom of Bhutan
Tel: +9758271277
Fax: + 975-8-271456
Website: info@zhiwaling.com or reservation@zhiwaling.com

Dress Code: Smart casual is the official dress code during AT&RTCM business sessions. 
 
Getting to Bhutan: The Bhutan’s only international airport at Paro, is located at a height of 7300 ft above sea level and surrounded by mountains and hills as high as 16,000 feet. Druk Air is the national air operating with two A319. Tourists flying in and out of Bhutan are obliged to use Druk Air which is the only airline serving Bhutan. It flies to destinations that include Bangkok, Delhi, Kolkata, Gaya, Dhaka, Bagdogra, Kathmandu and Guwahati in Assam.

Airport Transfers
Airport transfers between Paro International Airport to the official hotels will be made available to all registered delegates arriving on February 02-04 (3 days) and departing on February 07-08 (2 days). Once delegates arrive at the airport please look for PATA Hospitality Desk, there will be guides who will assist all delegates from inside the airport to their driver. The drivers will wait outside the airport and take delegates to their respective official hotel.

About Paro, Bhutan
Paro is the most beautiful of all Bhutan's valley, was also historically the centre of two of the most important trade routes to Tibet.The information below was retrieved from Tourism Council of Bhutan website at http://www.tourism.gov.bt Please visit this website for more useful tips and information.
 
•Official Language: Bhutanese speak a variety of languages but Dzongkha is the national language and one of the most widely spoken languages. English is also a medium of communication and most Bhutanese speak English.

•Religion: two thirds and three quarters of the Bhutanese population follow Vajrayana Buddhism, which is also the state religion. About one quarter to one third is followers of Hinduism.

•Time: Bhutan is 6 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT+6). There is only one time zone throughout the country.

•Weather: The winter starts in December and ends in early March. During the summer, you should expect some light rainfall especially in the south of Bhutan. In the winter time, the temperature can drop down to -6 degrees Celsius while in the summer time the temperatures reach an overage of 25 degrees Celsius. The best time to travel in Bhutan is during the Spring (March, April and May) as days are warm and clear.

•Clothing: the weather is quite erratic in Bhutan. So be prepared to brace the erratic weather as you step outdoor.  Visitors should dress modestly and respectfully especially if you are planning a visit to the monasteries, Dzongs and other religious institutions. As a mark of respect, be kind enough to remove your hats, caps etc. as you enter religious and administrative premises, institutions and in any other place that you come across with the national flag being raised.

•Currency: 1 Ngultrum (BTN; symbol Nu) = 100 chetrum (Ch). The Ngultrum is pegged to the Indian Rupee (which is also accepted as legal tender). Notes are in denominations of Nu500, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of Nu1, and 50, 25 and 20 chetrum. US Dollars are also widely accepted.

•ATM: ATMs only accept Bhutanese bank cards.

•Currency exchange: Leading foreign currencies are accepted but traveller's cheques are preferred and receive a better exchange rate. Major hotels in Thimphu, Paro and Phuentsholing will also exchange foreign currency.

•Telephone: To dial international number from Bhutan, you should subscriber telephone number respectively as: +975 (International Dialing Bhutan Code) + (Country Code) + City Area Code + Number you wish to call     (Note: The international country calling code of Bhutan is +975, Paro city code is 8)

•Electricity: All major towns are well connected with electricity that runs on 220/240 volts with round hole two-pin and three-pin power outlets.

•Precautions: Avoid drinking unboiled water or taking ice cubes at all times as most water sources in Bhutan are untreated though they have their source in the mountains. One can come across treated and bottled water readily in any town and are affordable.

•Visa Formalities: Other than Indian, Bangladeshis and Maldivian nationals, all visitors to Bhutan require a visa; all visas are issued from Thimphu; visas are only issued to tourists booked with a local licensed tour operator, directly or through a foreign travel agent. Applications for tourist visas are submitted by the tour operator. Visa clearance from Thimphu must be obtained before coming to Bhutan. Visa clearance takes at least 10 days to process. Air tickets to Bhutan cannot be purchased without visa clearance. At your point of entry the visa will be stamped in your passport on payment of US$20, two passport photos will also be required. Visas are issued for a 15day period; extensions can be obtained in Thimphu at a cost of Nu.510.