In accordance with the Information, Communications and Media Act of Bhutan 2018, the Ministry of Economic Affairs has been mandated to license places of entertainments such as movie halls, dance halls, discotheques, music halls, gaming parlours, public houses, bars equipped with facilities for live or recorded music, Drayangs, Luyangs, hospitality lounges, video or computer gaming arcades, circuses, magic shows, fetes, concerts, fairs, carnivals, wrestling bouts, sporting events, bingo halls and any other similar forms of entertainments , which were earlier dealt by BICMA. Henceforth, issuance and renewal of entertainment licenses shall be the responsibility of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. However, the issuance and renewal of licenses shall have to be recommended by the Entertainment Licensing Committee constituted at Dzongkhag/ Dungkhag/ Thromde levels as per the Act.
The Department of Cottage & Small Industry (DCSI) and Department of Industry (DoI) met with officials of the six Regional Trade & Industry Offices (RTIOs) on 17th July, 2018 to familiarize them with the licensing procedures and online application system, as all services related licensing of the places of entertainments are delegated to RTIOS.