Thimphu: The influx of Indian tourists into Bhutan has led to substantial wait times at the Pedestrian Terminal in Phuentsholing, owing to the presence of just one Sustainable Development Fees (SDF) counter. As visitors throng to experience the country’s charm, their journey begins with frustration due to lengthy queues.
The Department of Revenue and Customs (DRC) is tasked with collecting SDF from tourists at both the Phuentsholing terminal gate and Paro International Airport arrival terminal. However, the bottleneck arises primarily at Phuentsholing, where a solitary payment counter grapples with the surging demand.
Tourists and tour operators lament the situation, citing wait times of two to three hours to settle the SDF. While Indian tourists have the option to pay online, many prefer the on-site payment to evade additional taxes imposed by their government. This preference for cash transactions exacerbates the strain on the lone counter.
Yesterday, the plight of tourists reached a peak in Phuentsholing, with queues stretching beyond three hours. Each day witnesses over 300 tourists passing through the terminal, amplifying the urgency for a solution.
Paro International Airport isn’t exempt from this struggle, especially during chartered flight arrivals, where the counter becomes inundated with passengers. In response, the Department of Tourism has urged the DRC to implement additional counters for smoother operations.
Acknowledging the challenge, a DRC official cited staffing shortages exacerbated by recent resignations. However, efforts are underway to mitigate the issue. At Paro Airport, four additional counters have been established to alleviate congestion during peak hours. In Phuentsholing, staff are multitasking to streamline operations, although challenges persist.
The DRC emphasizes that online payment options exist to circumvent long queues. Nonetheless, the necessity of physical cash transactions and the allure of paying upon arrival continue to strain resources and inconvenience tourists.
As Bhutan continues to attract a growing number of visitors, the need for efficient entry processes becomes ever more pressing. Authorities are urged to address the logistical hurdles promptly to uphold the country’s reputation as a hospitable and tourist-friendly destination.
