Bhutan lowers daily tourist tax for visitors; check out the details
Known as the Land of Happiness, Bhutan offers a mesmerising blend of untouched natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and a commitment to sustainable development.
Thimphu: Bhutan, a country known to charge tourists Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) per night, is now lowering the fees for tourists who stay for more than four nights in the country. It is doing so in an attempt to boost the number of visitors after the pandemic. In September last year, Bhutan had increased the nightly charge or SDF to $200 from the $65 it had charged for about three decades. The move was taken to boost revenue generated from the tourism industry.
According to new rules, tourists paying the daily fees for four days will be allowed to stay an extra four days. Those paying SDF for 12 days can stay for a full month. The incentive, however, applies only to tourists who pay in dollars, and not to visitors from India and other neighbouring countries who pay in rupees. The new rules are effective from this month until the end of 2024.
Currently, Indians pay SDF of 1,200 rupees per night when visiting Bhutan.
Bhutan aims to gradually raise the contribution of tourism to 20 per cent to its $3 billion economy from about 5 per cent now. It also aims to welcome 86,000 visitors by the end of the year, after experiencing a slump post the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions. The country has already hosted more than 47,000 tourists since January.
The SDF is designed to attract wealthy tourists and discourage budget travellers who reportedly spoil the environment. The funds raised by SDF help in maintaining the pristine landscape and reduce the carbon footprints left by visitors. The kingdom nation also bans mountain climbing to preserve the sanctity of its peaks.
Known as the Land of Happiness, Bhutan offers a mesmerising blend of untouched natural beauty, rich cultural heritage, and a commitment to sustainable development.
Bhutan is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful national parks, such as the Jigme Dorji National Park and Royal Manas National Park, which are home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including rare and endangered species like the takin and snow leopard.
