Lotay Rinchen obtained MA Degree in Sustainable International Development from Brandeis University. Previously, he worked as a budget officer in the ministry of Finance for the Royal Government of Bhutan. His strong personal passion and professional background in sustainable tourism, community development and youth empowerment have led him to team up with his brother and launch a sustainable travel venture: Bridge To Bhutan (B | | B).
Bridge To Bhutan is a responsive tourism company that focuses on connecting global travelers with the spirituality and vitality of touring the Land of the Thunder Dragon. For more information you can also visit the (B | | B) Blog. Elevate Destinations has partnered with Bridge To Bhutan to offer two spectacular adventure itineraries (Trail Itinerary and Journey Itinerary) in this responsive travel realm.
The following interview highlights Lotay’s belief in his foundation and his country.
What is responsive travel to you?
Responsive Travel is travelling with an open mind; it is about perceiving, absorbing, and being able to appreciate the moment for what it is. It is the ability to sense the air, the trees, the sound of birds, temple bells, fluttering prayer flags, the smell and the colors all at the same time. Responsive travelers are people who are mindful and able to adapt to places that they visit. They desire a lifelong connection to people and places they have visited.
Why do you consider responsive travel to be an important issue?
Bridge To Bhutan is a conscious effort to promote and provide sustainable travel solutions to savvy globetrotters visiting Bhutan. That is why I see responsive travel as an indispensable component of that effort. A responsive traveler demands little, but gives more. It is the travel of the future!
Some people say that the most responsive form of travel is none at all. What are your thoughts on this?
Responsive Travel allows the traveler self-discovery and awareness. In an increasingly globalized and interdependent world, travelling is a must. One cannot be complacent and be incognizant of the world surrounding him or her. Traveling is education. In Mark Twain’s words “traveling is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” If you travel like you give a damn, you are a responsive traveler!
Source: elevate destinations