If you are heading for a trip to the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan, be prepared to pay a a sustainable development fee.

Bhutan has reopened its borders to tourists from September 23. But it will do so with a renewed focus on the sustainability of the sector.

Lot of people from Assam which has borders with Bhutan go to visit the latter country as tourists.

Indians will be expected to pay Rs 1200 for every night they spend in the country.

The tourism sector in Bhutan will focus on three key areas. They are infrastructure and services, the travel experiences of tourists, and the sector’s environmental impact.

“COVID-19 has allowed us to reset – to rethink how the sector can be best structured and operated, so that it not only benefits Bhutan economically, but socially as well, while keeping carbon footprints low. In the long run, our goal is to create high-value experiences for visitors, and well-paying and professional jobs for our citizens,” said Dr. Tandi Dorji, Foreign Minister of Bhutan and Chairperson of the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Among the slew of changes are revised standards for service providers, including hotels, guides, tour operators, and drivers, which will soon be subjected to a more robust certification process before they can engage tourists. Employees will be required to participate in skilling and reskilling programmes, where necessary, to boost service quality.

As such, Bhutan will be raising the Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of US$65 per person per night for tourists to US$200, which will go towards activities that promote carbon-neutral tourism and building a more sustainable tourism sector. This includes offsetting the carbon footprint of tourists and upskilling workers in the sector. Indian tourists will pay a previously stipulated fee, which will be revised at a later date.

At the same time, the Minimum Daily Package Rate (MDPR) will be removed. The rate refers to the minimum sum paid by all tourists for an all-inclusive package tour to Bhutan. The MDPR has in the past often limited the tourist experience, as travelers could only choose packaged tours provided by tour operators. Going forward, tourists will have the flexibility to engage service providers directly, and pay for their services accordingly. The fee changes came into effect on June 20.

“Our strategy for the revamp of the tourism sector brings us back to our roots, of ‘High Value, Low Volume’ tourism, where we meet the needs of tourists while protecting our people, culture, values, and environment. Tourism is a strategic and valuable national asset, one that does not only impact those working in the sector but all Bhutanese. Ensuring its
sustainability is vital to safeguarding future generations.” Dorji Dhradhul, Director General, Tourism Council of Bhutan.

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