Have you been considering plans for a long weekend trip that will rejuvenate your fried mind? But destinations like Goa and Himachal seem too crowded to set foot on. If the dilemma of a getaway is on her mind, then this new information from Bhutan, on the border with India, might give her some ideas to start your date.
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- Bhutan removes daily fee in half
- Bhutan only opened its doors to visitors in 1974.
Bhutan removes daily fee in half
According Reuters, the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is eager to halve the price of its daily tourist fee. When visiting the country, tourists from India were required to pay a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of Rs 1,200, while tourists from other Western countries were charged more than $200.
In an effort to boost a sector still struggling to recover a year after the end of COVID-19 restrictions, the nation’s government thought it better to cut prices in half to attract more tourists.
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Last year, in September, Bhutan increased the SDF from $65 to $200 per visitor per night when it ended two years of COVID restrictions on travel to the country. The new reduced rate will take effect in September and will continue for the next four years.
The government said on Friday: “This is due to the important role of the tourism sector in generating employment, earning foreign exchange… and boosting overall economic growth.”
Bhutan only opened its doors to visitors in 1974.
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It may come as a surprise to some, but Bhutan has been closed off and cut off from the rest of the world for many generations. It was not until 1974 that the country opened its doors and received its first 300 visitors. However, by the end of 2019, this figure had inflated to a whopping 315,600.
The Himalayan kingdom has always been a land that attracted curious boys who wanted to experience the calm and peace of the land. Filled with monasteries and clean air, the nation has been a famous retirement destination for thousands of travelers. However, when COVID hit, tourism in the country hit a record low and the sector was further affected by the increase in the daily tax, limiting the number of tourists arriving in the country.
The director general of the Department of Tourism, Dorji Dhradhul, explained that the reduction of the daily tax could increase the number of incoming tourists to the country during the peak season from September to December. He noted that since January, 56,000 tourists have visited Bhutan, including 42,000 Indians.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn