My story – The first Tibetan woman travel agency

My name is Dechen and I was born in Tibet, Tsedang, Sangri country. I was just a girl who was born in nomad area surrounded by snow mountains, grassland and rivers. I have been involved tourism right from the opening of tourism in Tibet but never dreamed of starting the first Tibetan woman travel agency.

Dechen - first Tibetan woman travel agencyIn 1983 there were only a few foreigner who is visiting Tibet. That time there is no standard hotels for the foreigner to accommodate. However, I was doing my secondary school that time so the government sends me to mainland China, Chengdu for further studies regarding Tibet hotel management and English class for almost 2 years. It is my first visit to China and it takes 11 days for me to reach Chengdu by local bus to cover almost 2000kms. When I return to Tibet, I participate to work in first two new hotel in Tibet, Lhasa which is Lhasa hotel and Tibet guest house.

At that time there are several groups visiting Tibet from different countries. The problem during that time is that there is not enough English speaking tour guide who can lead the groups and only the Children from the noble family who have learned English from abroad and some people from Han guides from mainland China so the government sends us to Beijing for further studies regarding Tibet tour guide training. It is had been almost 13 years that I have guided in Tibet.

How did I decide to start the first Tibetan woman travel agency?

From year 2000 I have worked in foreign individual travel ( FIT) business in old part of Lhasa for almost 3 years. After that I have started my own business and opened Tibet Highland tours. I have excellent experience in Tibet tourism business such as Tibet route, Policy, High altitude sickness, Emergency aid and insurance policy in Tibet etc. After doing business on Tibet tourism for very long time I had good knowledge and relations with every government department, Guides and drivers of Tibet tourism business. I am very proud to say that there are plenty of guides, driver and sales manager who worked under us and have gained a lot of knowledge about Tibet tourism business and now have started their own tourism business.

In this recent 4 years, I have been focusing on Tibetan Buddhism studies and practices as well. Simultaneously, I am also focusing on improving my Tibetan language with 100 other old ladies average ages are around 60 years. Currently, I am in Lhasa living with my husband family including Father, mother, and my two sons.