Travellers to Bhutan will, from September, pay a much higher Sustainable Development Fee when the destination reopens to international visitors.
Thimphu, Bhutan – Bhutan’s strategy has always been to keep backpackers and mass tourism out. Citing ‘high value, low volume tourism’.
Travellers to Bhutan will, from September, pay a much higher Sustainable Development Fee when the destination reopens to international visitors.
The Sustainable Development Fee will be adjusted from US$65 per tourist per night to US$200 and be used to fund activities that promote carbon-neutral and sustainable tourism, such as carbon offsetting.
With higher fees, operators said visitors would be now free to choose their operators and plan itineraries. They can engage tourism services directly without restrictions of a Minimum Daily Package Rate in the hope of reviving tourism.
However, agents are quoted as saying that when the country opens its doors again after a two-year hiatus, the new fees may deter some. The $3 billion economy in Bhutan contracted in the last two years, pushing more people into poverty.
Officials believe it will not, however, deter wealthy tourists, who will still travel.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) said tourists would be allowed to enter from September 23.
The tiny Himalayan country squeezed between China and India, of outstanding natural beauty and ancient Buddhist culture, took drastic early steps and banned tourism, a significant source of income, in March 2020 when the first COVID-19 case was detected there. Bhutan reported fewer than 60,000 infections and only 21 deaths.
The Tourism Council of Bhutan said in a press statement that the country’s tourism sector would revamp, focusing on infrastructure and services, tourist experiences, and tourism’s environmental impact.
Tandi Dorji, foreign minister of Bhutan and chairperson of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, said: “Covid-19 has allowed us to reset – to rethink how the sector can be best structured and operated.”
AJW comment: Bhutan’s strategy has always been to keep back-packers and mass tourism out. The US$65 tax hike to US$200 per day will keep many away.
Wiki: Taktsang Palphug Monastery and the Tiger’s Nest is a sacred Vajrayana Himalayan Buddhist site located on the cliffside of the upper Paro valley in Bhutan
Andrew J Wood was born in Yorkshire England, he is a former hotelier, Skalleague and travel writer. Andrew has 48 years of hospitality and travel experience. Educated at Batley Grammar School and a hotel graduate of Napier University, Edinburgh. Andrew started his career in London, working with various hotels. His first posting overseas was with Hilton International, in Paris, and he later arrived in Asia in 1991 on Bangkok with his appointment as Director of Marketing at the Shangri-La Hotel and has remained in Thailand ever since. Andrew has also worked with the Royal Garden Resort Group now Anantara (Vice President) and the Landmark Group of Hotels (Vice President of Sales and Marketing). Latterly he has been the General Manager at the Royal Cliff Group of Hotels in Pattaya and the Chaophya Park Hotel Bangkok & Resorts.
A past board member and Director of Skål International (SI), a former National President with SI Thailand and a two time past President of the Bangkok Club. Andrew is the former President of Skål Asia. In 2019, Andrew was awarded SKÅL’s highest award the distinction of Membre D’Honneur.
He is a regular guest lecturer at various Universities in Asia.
