Bhutan’s new tourism policy came into effect on 20th June 2022. The major change in the new tourism policy is that Sustainable Development Fee for tourists visiting Bhutan will be USD 200/night/person. On top of the SDF, tourists also have to pay for airfares, hotels, meals, transportation, guide services, and others while they are in the country.
Our SDF has not increased for more than three decades. The decision to increase was arrived at after consulting the experts and would be used to reinvest into making Bhutan a high-end tourist destination. This Levy Act is to bring more benefits from tourism to future generations of this country. This bill also aims to re-promote Bhutan as a destination for exclusive tourism. This SDF will make sure in promoting sustainable and responsible tourism under the overall principle of “High value, Low volume” tourism in Bhutan.
Sustainable Development Fee contributes to social welfare, developmental activities, conservation of the environment, promotion of culture, and enhancement of infrastructure and facilities for tourists in Bhutan. More importantly, with this new policy, tourism earnings will be reinvested directly into the tourism industry. This means investing in quality employment, maintaining and developing cultural heritage, and providing value for money for all our guests.
Most destinations are struggling with the increase in tourism and the negative impact it has on the authenticity of their destination. One solution to this problem is a high-value, low-volume strategy to attract those who are willing to pay more for an authentic experience. Our new tourism policy focuses on providing a quality experience for tourists that also have a positive impact on the destination. The goal is to create less crowded, authentic experiences for tourists and help them get more value for their money.
High-value, low-volume tourism is a sustainable model that can provide benefits to all parties involved: tourists, destinations, and communities. With this new policy, our tourism Industry can contribute to positive changes for our country as well as for the planet.
I am very much sure that those who visit and Experience Bhutan will feel Value for Money and they will appreciate our policy. Come, Visit and Experience it to endorse our policy- share it with the world!