Visiting Bhutan Gets Expensive As They're Concerned About Indian Tourists Flooding The Country

Over the years, the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan has emerged as one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the region for both holidaymakers and thrillseekers who want to go on long rides.?

But, Bhutan is one of those few countries around the world that puts the environment first and are dead serious about preserving nature.Bhutan is the only carbon negative country in the world and values its resources on Gross National Happiness (GNH) and not GDP.?

So it should not come as a surprise that Bhutan is concerned about the rising number of Indians visiting the country every year.?

Some uncalled for actions by Indians like what happened in October 2019 when an Indian biker was detained after he was seen climbing a holy site to take a photo caused outrage in the country too have added to Bhutan becoming concerned about the rising footfall of Indians there.?

Abhijit Ratan Hajare from Maharashtra, who was part of a 15 bike convoy was seen climbing on a Chorten, a sacred stupa in Buddhism, which symbolizes the presence of Buddha and was detained by the authorities for hurting religious sentiments.?

Since then there was rising demand in the country to restrict the number of Indian tourists allowed to visit Bhutan.?

Soon, Bhutan will introduce a "sustainable development fee" for regional tourists following a spike in Indian visitors there. According to the legislation passed by Bhutan's lower house of parliament, a sustainable development fee of $ 16.85 (Rs 1,200) per day will be charged from regional tourists starting from July.

This is in addition to the nearly $250 per day in high season, that tourists spent on meals, transport, and accommodation in Bhutan. This fee will be applicable for visitors from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, which makes up the majority of visitors to the country.?

In 2018, Bhutan received 200,000 visitors from countries in the region, up nearly 10 percent from 2017, sparking fears that it was becoming just another mass tourism destination.?

However, not everyone in the country is in favour of the new fees.Sonam Wangchuk, the chairman of Bhutan's hotel and restaurants association, voiced fears that newly built budget hotels accommodating the surge in Indian visitors would now go bust."We have shared our concerns and sentiments to the government. But despite that they still went ahead with the decision," Wangchuk told AFP.?

Tandi Dorji, Bhutan's foreign minister and Tourism Council head, said that the government would consider fiscal incentives if the new fee affected the hotel sector.