Fintech PR

10 Things You Must Know Before Planning a Trip to Bhutan

Published

6 years ago

April 3, 2019

Newsfile

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Situated in the east side of the enormous and gorgeous Himalayas, Bhutan is visualized as the land of monasteries, temples and of course, mesmerizing natural beauty and one of the most eye-catching wilderness. The country is unlike any other. There are unprecedented travel experiences, hiking, trekking, adventure, and spiritual that entice every visitor. PErtinently, Bhutan opened it’s borders for tourists after 1974, but more and more number of visitors are now visiting the country that contributes in making revenue for the country. The “High value, low impact” slogan which fits with its sustainable methodology, has been in the tourism policy of Bhutan ever since that implies exclusivity and high production for the kingdom.

If you fancy a trip to this wonderful Himalayan country, here are a few things to consider before you start packing your bags.

1)Best time to visit Bhutan?

The ideal time to tour Bhutan is during the spring season, i.e from March to May. It’s the time when flowers are blossoming, skies are clear and clearly visible Himalayan peaks. From June to August, the tourist season is all time low because of the incessant rains that significantly restrict the tourist activities, such as trekking and sightseeing. But of course, travelling in this season would be least expensive than in peak seasons when the rush of visitors is quite high.

Since the country is also known for it’s buoyant and vigorous religious festivals, many people from all over the world like to witness the enthralling gala. These religious festivals and events are known as Tshechus, which means “10th day” and every temple and monastery hosts their Tshechu on the 10th of their selected month. These festivals are regarded with high respect and people gather together for masked dances and receive blessings from their deities. These special events and festivals particularly attract visitors, creating a unique and remarkable aura. It also familiarises foreign people with the traditions,culture and history of Bhutan.

2) Choosing a tour operator

Travelling to Bhutan cannot be decided in a jiffy. The government of Bhutan requires tourists to plan their journey in advance and book their tour, artrange their visas, etc through government approved tour operators. It’s all pre-paid. The tourist fee per person per day is $200-250, including accommodation, food and travel within the country and an assigned travel guide. However citizens of India, Bangladesh and Maldives do not require a visa to visit Bhutan.

3) Food in Bhutan

The food in Bhutan is mostly quite spicy and almost every meal includes chillies. If you are not used to eating spicy food, you can ask for anything with no chillies. They will politely oblige. Rice and meat dishes are the staples. However veggies, momos and dumplings are also also available widely.

4) Dress Code

The traditional dress of Bhutan is a “gho” for men and “kira” for women. Gho is a long, knee-length robe like garment, wrapped around and held with a belt, while kira is an ankle-length dress accompanied by a jacket called “Tego”, with an inner layer known as a “Wonju”. The local people wear them on all occasions, in temples monasteries and Dzongs, etc. But visitors are not necessarily required to wear them. However while visiting their temples and other religious places, it’s important to ensure that you are covered. You must also remove your hat or cap if you are near their national flag, and remove your footwear as well when entering a holy place, such as a temple or a monastery.

5) Language

The language of Bhutan is Dzongkha. However, taxi drivers, shopkeepers, hotel and restaurant staff can speak and understand English quite well.

6) Photography

People of Bhutan are quite friendly. However they are shy too. If you want to take a picture of the local people there, seek permission first. However, avoid clicking pictures of any member from the Royal family. This could land you in trouble otherwise.

Photographing their temples and Dzongs is permitted but not where their deities are placed. Also keep in mind that wherever you require to take off your shoes, clicking pictures is prohibited. However you can always take help from you local tour guide.

7) Smoking is prohibited in Bhutan

Just like any other country, Bhutan also has it’s rules and regulations. It is imperative upon visitors to strictly adhere to them. The country has a stern and uncompromising policy for tobacco consumption. Smoking is totally banned at public places in Bhutan. However foreign tourists are allowed to carry a maximum of 200 cigarettes and you can find a hotel, restaurant or a bar to smoke. If you are caught smoking at a public place or their religious place, a high amount of fine can be imposed on you and you could even be sentenced jail.

8) Do not disrespect the tradition or the Royals

The Royals are considered the incarnation of their Gods and deities. So any indecent and rude remark towards the royals will not be appreciated. Make sure you do not mock them.

9) ATMs in Bhutan

ATMs are easily available in most parts of Bhutan. However the transaction charges might be variable. Foreign currency can be exchanged for the local currency when you land in Bhutan.

10) Get a local SIM card

There is no guarantee that your SIM card would work in Bhutan, as there is a handful of mobile service providers in the country. However you can get a local SIM quite easily to stay connected. You will need your passport You tour guide would help you getting one.

After having read about the kingdom, you must be certainly be excited for a Bhutan tour. If you desire a smooth, cheerful and hassle free tour experience, you can always count on bookmytour.bt for a trip to cherish, as we offer a wide range of packages that suit you best.

This article is a contribution of Ram Narayan Mandal

About the Author:

Ram Narayan Mandal, is a content manager at the BookMyTour.

He basically used to write about the topic that helps people to understand better about Bhutan.

Fintech PR

CCTV+: 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints opens in Beijing

Published

2 hours ago

December 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

cctv+:-2024-beijing-forum-on-swift-response-to-public-complaints-opens-in-beijing

BEIJING, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 Beijing Forum on Swift Response to Public Complaints opened in the Chinese capital on Wednesday, where leading global academics and representatives share their insights and explore strategies for modernizing urban governance.

With the theme of “Modernizing for People-Centered Urban Governance,” the two-day event from Wednesday to Thursday has gathered more than 700 participants, including domestic and international guests, representatives from China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR and the Taiwan region, scholars from universities and representatives of grassroots workers.

Beijing is a city with a profound history and rich cultural heritage, as well as a vibrant, modern international metropolis. Covering an area of over 16,000 square kilometers, it has a permanent population of 21.858 million.

In response to urban governance challenges, Beijing launched the swift response to public complaints reform in 2019, providing rapid responses and efficient handling of citizens’ concerns through the 12345 Citizen Service Hotline.

Over the past five years, the city has handled 150 million complaints from citizens, achieving a resolution rate of 96.5 percent and a satisfaction rate of 96.9 percent.

The attendees have been invited to visit the Beijing 12345 Citizen Hotline Service Center on the sideline of the forum, to gain firsthand insights into Beijing’s exploration and innovation in the governance of mega-cities.

Sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Media Group, Communist Party of China Beijing Municipal Committee and the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality, the forum has a main forum and six parallel sessions.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584884/image1.jpg
Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584885/image2.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cctv-2024-beijing-forum-on-swift-response-to-public-complaints-opens-in-beijing-302335767.html

Fintech PR

TOPPAN Holdings Acquires Sonoco’s TFP Business

Published

3 hours ago

December 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

Agreement reached on acquisition of Sonoco’s TFP business as TOPPAN Group accelerates expansion of sustainable packaging business in Americas

TOKYO, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (TOPPAN Holdings) has entered into an agreement with Sonoco Products Company (NYSE: SON) (Sonoco), a global leader in high-value sustainable packaging, to acquire Sonoco’s Thermoformed & Flexible Packaging (TFP) business for approximately $1.8 billion on a cash-free and debt-free basis and subject to customary adjustments.

This acquisition is highly complementary, combining the robust sales network, customer base, and solution development capabilities of Sonoco’s TFP business in North and South America with the technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities of TOPPAN Group’s global packaging business.

Sonoco’s TFP is a leading thermoformed and flexible packaging business serving a wide range of customers in food, retail, and medical verticals. TFP provides a variety of complex packaging to value-added categories including snacks, condiments, healthcare, prepared meals, fresh products, coffee, and pet food. On a pro forma standalone basis, TFP had revenue of approximately $1.3 billion in 2023.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to bring Sonoco’s TFP business to the TOPPAN Group. In order to accelerate our strategy to become a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions, we will employ the complementary strengths of both parties to drive growth, solve customers’ needs and create significant value for our shareholders,” said Hideharu Maro, Representative Director, President & CEO of TOPPAN Holdings. “This is an essential milestone in the TOPPAN Group’s global strategy to scale the sustainable packaging business.”

This transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the first half of 2025.

The TOPPAN Group’s Strategy

The TOPPAN Group aims to be a leading solution provider addressing global issues. Under the current medium-term-strategy, the TOPPAN Group has been transforming its portfolio, and one of its key strategies is to drive sustainable packaging solutions at global scale.

The vision of the TOPPAN Group’s packaging business is “Change the World through Packaging Innovation,” and its mission is to “Foster a society focused on well-being and sustainability, while safeguarding our planet for future generations, through the continuous development of innovative packaging solutions that explore cutting-edge materials and technologies.”

The TOPPAN Group has been driving innovation in the development of sustainable packaging solutions by establishing a global supply chain from film manufacturing to packaging manufacturing and optimizing cost to meet brand owners’ needs locally and globally.

Advisors
Houlihan Lokey is acting as lead financial advisor and Morrison & Foerster LLP is acting as legal advisor to TOPPAN. Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co., Ltd. is also acting as financial advisor to TOPPAN.

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is acting as lead financial advisor and Freshfields LLP is acting as legal advisor to Sonoco. RBC Capital Markets, LLC is also acting as financial advisor to Sonoco.

About the TOPPAN Group

Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.

https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan/

About Sonoco’s TFP

Sonoco’s TFP business has a strong customer base and manufacturing footprint in North America and South America with approximately 4,500 employees in 22 manufacturing plants, over 700 patents, and design capability across 10 countries.

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584831/logo_blue_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/toppan-holdings-acquires-sonocos-tfp-business-302335693.html

Fintech PR

Jones Day names 37 new partners

Published

5 hours ago

December 19, 2024

CISION (PR Newswire)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The global law firm Jones Day announces that the 37 lawyers listed below will be admitted to the Firm’s partnership effective January 1, 2025.

“This class of new partners once again reflects Jones Day’s ability to provide our valued clients the guidance and legal solutions for their most complex business challenges across the globe,” said Gregory M. Shumaker, Managing Partner of Jones Day.

The full announcement is also available on Jones Day’s website. The list follows:

Rebecca Wernicke Anthony, Business & Tort Litigation, Dallas
Matthew Barrett, Corporate, London
Joseph C. Barry, Financial Markets, Cleveland
Irina K. Bleustein, Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement, Washington
Mathis Bredimus, Corporate, London
Kelsey S. Bryan, Business & Tort Litigation, Los Angeles
Emily W. Cai, Corporate, New York
Diana L. Calla, Business & Tort Litigation, San Francisco
Andrew J. Clopton, Issues & Appeals, Detroit
Arturo de la Parra, Financial Markets, Mexico City
Adrien Descoutures, Corporate, Paris
Preslava Dilkova, Government Regulation, Brussels
Amanda L. Dollinger, Financial Markets, New York
Anna A. Dwyer, Real Estate, Chicago
Justin P. Farra, Corporate, Columbus
Matthew J. Gherlein, Financial Markets, Cleveland
Fabio Maria Guidi, Financial Markets, Milan
Ryan Harmanis, Business & Tort Litigation, Columbus
Jared P. Hasson, Corporate, Cleveland
Andrew D. Iammarino, Financial Markets, Cleveland
Kurt A. Johnson, Detroit, Issues & Appeals
Andrew J. Junker, Business & Tort Litigation, Dallas
Thomas S. Koglman, Intellectual Property, Cleveland
Laura E. Koman, Health Care & Life Sciences, Washington
Marta Lahuerta Escolano, Government Regulation, Paris
Justin D. Martin, Labor & Employment, Miami
Alexander V. Maugeri, Government Regulation, New York
Justin W. McKithen, Financial Markets, Atlanta
Karl S. Moussalli, Global Disputes, London
Victoria Cuneo Powell, Business & Tort Litigation, Atlanta
Gabrielle E. Pritsker, Business & Tort Litigation, Washington
Kaitlinn P. Sliter, Corporate, Chicago
Bijan Tavakoli, Government Regulation, Frankfurt
Jessica Tierney, Health Care & Life Sciences, Washington
Collin L. Waring, Real Estate, Dallas
Ann-Marie Woods, Labor & Employment, Chicago
Jason Z. Zhou, Business & Tort Litigation, Chicago

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 40 offices across five continents. The Firm is distinguished by: a singular tradition of client service; the mutual commitment to, and the seamless collaboration of, a true partnership; formidable legal talent across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions; and shared professional values that focus on client needs.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2584725/Jones_Day_New_Partners.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/jones-day-names-37-new-partners-302335622.html