Dr Rieki Crins
Rieki Crins obtained her PhD on Gender and Sustainability in Bhutan in 2008 at the University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht and has written two books on Bhutan. Dr Crin is a speaker and lecturer at universities and institutions such as Oxford University, University of Amsterdam, Siam Society in Bangkok, Thailand, and the TBLI conference among others.
In support of an ecolodge in central Bhutan and a community hospitality college she was setting up, in 2009 Rieki created the Learning Exchange Foundation to raise awareness of Bhutanese culture, holistic lifestyle, and world-view in the West in exchange for Western concepts of professionalism and sustainability. In March 2015, the Learning Exchange Foundation opened the Bongde Institute of Hospitality and Tourism.
Dr Crins is also a guest author at The “GT” Travel Blog.
The reality of Bhutan tourism is more gross dysfunction than gross happiness, according to Rieki Crins in this “Good Tourism” Insight. UPDATE, May 2021: This “GT” Insight from July 2017 contrasts with the April 2021 “GT” Insight by Dorji Dhradhul of the Tourism Council of Bhutan: “High value, low volume tourism: Is Bhutan’s old normal […]
Read More Not so happy: Bhutan’s dysfunctional tourism strategy