From September, Bhutan will be re-open to international visitors again. Referring to this, an official stated that the kingdom will be reopening for the first time since the pandemic began more than two years ago, as it looks to revive its economy.
Bhutan closed its borders and banned tourism after COVID-19 broke out in March 2020. Bhutan reported around 60000 infections for its population of less than 8,00,000. However, its USD 3 billion economies suffered losses over the past two fiscal years, which drove more people into poverty.
The worst might be over now as the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has announced that international visitors will be able to enter the kingdom beginning September 23.
According to the latest reports, tourists will, however, be charged a Sustainable Development Fee of USD 200 per night, a significant increase from the USD 65 charged for the past three decades. A senior official in the know-how said this new fee will be helpful in reducing the carbon footprint of tourists.
In a statement, Tandi Dorji, chairman of the TCB and the country’s foreign minister, noted that the COVID-19 was a great opportunity to reset and rethink how the sector should operate and structure to keep carbon footprints low. As a result, he informed us that the kingdom had revised its standards for service providers, including tour operators, hotels, drivers, and guides.
According to reports, tourism employs more than 50000 people. It also contributes an average annual amount of USD 84 million in the three years prior to the COVID epidemic in direct foreign currency. According to TCB data, Bhutan opened its doors to high-end tourists in 1974. However, the number grew to 315600 by 2019.
Tour operators stated that visitors would have the freedom to plan their travels and select their own tour operators in light of this new development. Some believe that the revised fee may deter some travelers, but not those who are wealthier. He said that those who have the means to spend are most welcome.
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