View source for Tourism in Bhutan

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[[Image:Drukair Airbus A319 at Paro Airport No1.jpg|right|thumb|300px| Passengers disembarking from [[Druk Air]]'s [[Airbus A319]] at [[Paro Airport]]]]

'''Tourism in Bhutan''' began in 1974, when the [[Government of Bhutan]], in an effort to raise revenue and to promote Bhutanese unique culture and traditions to the outside world, opened its isolated country to foreigners. In 1974 a total of 287 [[tourism|tourists]] visited the [[Kingdom of Bhutan]]. The number of tourists visiting Bhutan increased to 2,850 in 1992, and rose dramatically to 7,158 in 1999.<ref name="Digital himalaya">
{{cite web |author= Dorji, Tandi |url= http://www.thlib.org/static/reprints/jbs/JBS_03_01_03.pdf |title= Sustainability of Tourism in Bhutan |publisher= Digital Himalaya |access-date= August 10, 2008}}</ref> By the late 1980s tourism contributed over US$2 million in annual revenue.

Though open to foreigners, the Bhutanese government is acutely aware of the [[overtourism|environmental impact tourists can have]] on Bhutan's unique and virtually unspoiled landscape and culture. Accordingly, they have restricted the level of tourist activity from the start, preferring higher-quality tourism. Initially, this policy was known as "high value, low volume"<ref>[https://kuenselonline.com/high-value-low-volume/ High Value Low Volume]. KuenselOnline (2015-08-21). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref> tourism. It was renamed in 2008 as "high value, low impact", "a subtle but significant shift". While the low impact is guaranteed through the low number of visitors, it is a requirement to be wealthy to travel Bhutan,<ref name="wealthy tourists">Kent Schroeder, Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan, Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 54–55.</ref> which leaves room for criticism and the question whether one has to be wealthy to be a "high value tourist".<ref>
{{cite book
 | last1 = Schroeder
 | first1 = Kent
 | chapter = The Last Shangri-La?
 | title = Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan
 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=LXo4DwAAQBAJ
 | location = Cham (Zug)
 | publisher = Springer
 | publication-date = 2017
 | page = 55
 | isbn = 9783319653884
 | access-date = 25 January 2020
 | quote = To drive increased tourism revenues, the earlier approach of 'high value, low volume' was replaced by 'high value, low impact'. This represented a subtle but significant shift. 
}}</ref> For tourists a US$ 100 per person per day fee is imposed, except for Indian, Maldivian, and Bangladeshi nationals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gopal |first1=Sharma |title=Bhutan cuts daily tourist fee by half to lure more visitors |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bhutan-cuts-daily-tourist-fee-by-half-lure-more-visitors-2023-08-26/ |access-date=27 August 2023 |work=Reuters |archive-date=27 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230827065414/https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/bhutan-cuts-daily-tourist-fee-by-half-lure-more-visitors-2023-08-26/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.selectiveasia.com/bhutan-holidays/sustainability-development-fe|title=Understanding Bhutan's SDF|access-date=21 May 2024|work=Selective Asia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Yeginsu |first=Ceylan |date=2022-07-05 |title=Famous for Happiness, and Limits on Tourism, Bhutan Will Triple Fees to Visit |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/05/travel/bhutan-tourism.html |access-date=2023-02-18 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> In 2005 a document called "Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy" "placed greater emphasis on increasing tourist numbers by using the country's culture and environment to promote Bhutan as an exotic niche destination attractive to wealthy tourists".<ref>
Kent Schroeder, ''Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan'', Cham (Switzerland): Palgrave Macmillan, 2018, 54–55.
</ref> The most important centres for tourism are in Bhutan's capital, [[Thimphu]], and in the western city of [[Paro, Bhutan|Paro]], [[Paro Taktsang|Taktshang]], a cliff-side monastery (called the "Tiger's Nest" in English) overlooking the Paro Valley, is one of the country's attractions. This temple is sacred to [[Buddhists]]. Housed inside the temple is a cave in which the Buddhist Deity who brought Buddhism to Bhutan meditated for 90 days in order to spread Buddhism. The temple has been standing for well over a thousand years.

== Travel operators in Bhutan ==
[[File:New_Hindu_Temple_Thimphu.jpg|thumb|Hindu Dharma Samudaya Temple in [[Thimphu]]]]
The Bhutanese government privatised the Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC) in October 1991, facilitating private-sector investment and activity.  As a result, {{as of | 2018 | lc = on}} over 75 licensed tourist [[company|companies]] operate in the country.<ref name="Digital himalaya"/> Previously, all tourists (group or individual) had to travel on a planned, prepaid, guided package-tour or according to a custom-designed travel-program. Potential tourists had to make arrangements through an officially approved [[tour operator]], either directly or through an overseas agent.

== Visa to Bhutan ==
[[Bhutan]]'s tourism policy was further revised in June 2022 to maintain its 'High Value, Low Volume' policy and all nationalities had to pay US $200 as a Sustainable Development Fee<ref>{{cite news |title=Bhutan set to raise SDF to 200 USD |url=https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/bhutan-set-to-raise-sdf-to-200-usd |access-date=6 October 2022 |work=Daily Bhutan}}</ref> per night to obtain a visa to Bhutan, while Indian nationals have to pay 1,200 INR to obtain a permit. Starting from August 2023, the SDF decreased to $100, while the amount for Indians, stayed the same.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahuja |first=Bhawna |date=27 August 2023 |title=Enhancing Bhutan's Tourism Sector: Strategies for Success |url=https://www.indrastra.com/2023/08/enhancing-bhutans-tourism-sector.html |access-date=2023-11-28 |website=IndraStra Global |language=en |issn=2381-3652}}</ref> However, travelers can now arrange their own accommodations and itinerary when traveling in the country.

Almost all nationalities need to pre-arrange their visa or permit<ref>{{cite web |title=Planning YOUR TRIP to Bhutan |url=https://bhutan.travel/faqs#planning-your-trip |website=Tourism Council of Bhutan }}</ref> prior to visiting Bhutan based on the updated [[visa policy of Bhutan]]

== Airlines ==
[[File:Paro day 1-58 (8202279871).jpg|thumb|[[Paro International Airport]]]]
[[Druk Air]], founded in 1981, used to be the only airline operating flights in Bhutan,<ref>{{cite web |title=About Drukair |url=https://www.drukair.com.sg/about-drukair/about-drukair-corporation-ltd/ |website=Drukair Singapore office |publisher=Drukair |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> until the liberalization of the aviation industry with the introduction of [[Bhutan Airlines]] in December 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bhutanairlines.bt/about-us/corporate-profile/our-story | title=Our Story &#124; Bhutan Airlines }}</ref>

==Arrivals by country==
In 2019, the country saw its highest number of tourists yet, at more than 315,000 people. The growth was boosted by the Asia-Pacific market, notably from India, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Australia, Japan, China, Singapore, Bangladesh, Malaysia and South Korea. Western markets also increased, notably from the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, and France.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bhutan Tourism Monitor |url=https://www.tourism.gov.bt/resources/annual-reports |website=Tourism Council of Bhutan |access-date=6 October 2022}}</ref> 

Most visitors arriving to Bhutan on a short-term basis were from the following countries:<ref>Tourism Council of Bhutan (2014) [http://www.abto.org.bt/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/BTM-2013.pdf BHUTAN TOURISM MONITOR. Annual Report 2013].</ref><ref>Tourism Council of Bhutan (2016) {{cite web |title=BHUTAN TOURISM MONITOR. Annual Report 2015 |url=http://tcb.img.ebizity.bt/attachments/tcb_052016_btm-2015.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181009015240/http://tcb.img.ebizity.bt/attachments/tcb_052016_btm-2015.pdf |archive-date=2018-10-09 |access-date=2016-06-17}}</ref><ref>Tourism Council of Bhutan (2017) {{cite web |title=BHUTAN TOURISM MONITOR. Annual Report 2016 |url=http://tcb.img.ebizity.bt/attachments/tcb_041217_bhutan-tourism-monitor-2016.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712175845/http://tcb.img.ebizity.bt/attachments/tcb_041217_bhutan-tourism-monitor-2016.pdf |archive-date=2017-07-12 |access-date=2017-05-30}}</ref>

{{static row numbers}} 
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" 
! Country or territory || 2019 || 2018 || 2017 || 2016 || 2015 || 2014 || 2013 || 2012
|-
| {{flag|India}} || 230,381 || 191,836 || 172,751 || 114,301 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Bangladesh}} || 13,016  || 10,450  || 10,536 || 7,753 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|United States}} || 11,707 || 10,561 || 9,220 || 7,292 || 7,137 || 7,291 || 6,997 || 6,102
|-
| {{flag|China}} || 7,564 || 6,878 || 6,421 || 9,208 || 9,399 || 8,111 || 4,827 || 3,816
|-
| {{flag|South Korea}} || 998 ||  6,048 || 1,035 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Singapore}} || 4,744 || 3,886 || 4,129 || 3,015 || 2,587 || 1,720 || 2,051 
|-
| {{flag|United Kingdom}} || 4,241 || 3,585 || 3,246 || 3,124 || 2,958 || 2,680 || 2,309 || 2,491
|-
| {{flag|Thailand}} || 4,086 || 3,886 || 4,047 || 4,177 || 3,778 || 12,105 || 3,527 || 3,617
|-
| {{flag|Germany}} || 3,375 || 3,422 || 2,970 || 2,297 || 2,498 || 2,971 || 2,770 || 2,895
|-
| {{flag|Australia}} || 3,153 || 2,739  || 2,249 || 1,818 || 1,833 || 2,037 || 2,062 || 1,950
|-
| {{flag|Japan}} || 3,010 || 2,674 || 2,744 || 4,833 || 2,437 || 2,707 || 4,035 || 7,029
|-
| {{flag|Malaysia}} || 2,761 || 3,140 || 2,956 || 1,967 || 1,546 || 2,067 || 2,054 || 1,312
|-
| {{flag|Vietnam}} || 2,072 || 1,961 || 1,423 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|France}} || 1,953 || 1,773 || 1,545 || 1,501 || 1,563 || 1,636 || 1,572 || 1,863
|-
| {{flag|Philippines}} || 1,912 || 1,089 || 1,101 || {{n/a}} ||
|-
| {{flag|Canada}} || 1,870 || 1,807 || 1,524 || 1,110 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Spain}} || 1,659 || 1,397 || 1,142 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Taiwan}} || {{n/a}} || 1,496 || 1,491 || 1,812 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Switzerland}} || {{n/a}}|| 1,379 || 1,352 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Italy}} || {{n/a}} || 1,229 || 978 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Indonesia}} || {{n/a}}|| 1,033 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
| {{flag|Netherlands}} || {{n/a}} || 757 || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
! Others || 20,007 ||  || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}}
|-
! '''Total''' || 315,599 || 274,097  || 237,529 || 209,570 || 155,121 || 133,480 || 116,209 || 105,407
|}

==UNESCO Tentative List of Bhutan==
In 2012, Bhutan formally listed its tentative sites to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre. It was the first time Bhutan listed its sites to the organization for future inclusion. Eight sites were listed throughout the country.<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/bt/ Bhutan]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
{{static row numbers}} 
{| class="wikitable sortable static-row-numbers static-row-header-text" 
|-
! style="width:15%;" scope="col"| Site
! class="unsortable" scope="col" | Image
! scope="col" | Location
! scope="col" | [[World Heritage Site#Selection criteria|Proposed criteria]]
! scope="col"| Year Listed as Tentative Site
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Description
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Refs
|-
! scope="row"| [[Drukgyal Dzong|Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong]]
| [[File:Drukgyel Dzong.jpg|150x150px|]]
| [[Paro District]]
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site includes the ruins of a fortress-Buddhist monastery built by Tenzin Drukdra in 1649. In 2016, the Bhutanese government announced that the monastery will be rebuilt to its former glory.<ref>[http://www.kuenselonline.com/drukyuls-victory-rises-to-the-gyalsey/ Drukyul’s victory rises to The Gyalsey – KuenselOnline]. Kuenselonline.com (2016-02-07). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5694/ Ancient Ruin of Drukgyel Dzong]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Dzong architecture|Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities]] ([[Punakha Dzong]], [[Wangdue Phodrang|Wangdue Phodrang Dzong]], [[Rinpung Dzong|Paro Dzong]], [[Trongsa Dzong]] and [[Trashigang Dzong|Dagana Dzong]])
| [[File:PunakhaDzongInSpring.jpg|150x150px|]] [[File:Wangdue Phodrang Dzong.jpg|150x150px|]] [[File:Rinpung Dzong, Bhutan 01.jpg|150x150px|]] [[File:TrongsaDzong.jpg|150x150px|]] [[File:Tashigang Dzong 111120.jpg|150x150px|]]
| Multiple
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site includes five dzongs significant to Bhutanese history, namely, Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Trongsa Dzong and Dagana Dzong.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5695/ Dzongs: the centre of temporal and religious authorities (Punakha Dzong, Wangdue Phodrang Dzong, Paro Dzong, Trongsa Dzong and Dagana Dzong)]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Phajo Drugom Zhigpo|Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants]]
| [[File:Taktshang edit.jpg|150x150px|]]
| Multiple
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site includes Tsedong Phug, Gawa Phug, Langthang Phug, Sengye Phug, [https://bhutanpilgrimage.com/gom-dra-pelri-nyin-daai-drubkhang-the-golden-temple-of-bliss-and-emptiness/ Gom Drak], [https://bhutanpilgrimage.com/thuji-dra-the-cliff-of-compassion-where-phajo-had-a-vision-of-chenrezig/ Thukje Drak], [https://bhutanpilgrimage.com/tshechu-dra-one-of-the-four-meditation-cliffs-of-guru-rinpoche/ Tsechu Drak], Dechen Drak, [[Paro Taktsang|Taktsang Sengye Samdrub Dzong]], [https://bhutanpilgrimage.com/tango-choying-dzong-where-avalokiteshvara-revealed-himself-as-the-wrathful-hayagriva/ Tago Choying Dzong], Lingzhi Jagoe Dzong and Yangtse Thubo Dzong.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5696/ Sacred Sites associated with Phajo Drugom Zhigpo and his descendants]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Tamzhing Monastery]]
| [[File:tam ext1.jpg|150x150px|]]
| [[Bumthang District]]
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site is the most important Nyingma gompa in Bhutan.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5697/ Tamzhing Monastery]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Royal Manas National Park|Royal Manas National Park (RMNP)]]
| [[File:Golden_Langur.jpg|150x150px|]]
| Multiple districts
| Natural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site is the oldest national park in Bhutan.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5698/ Royal Manas National Park (RMNP)]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Jigme Dorji National Park|Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP)]]
| [[File:Jigme Dorji National Park, Bhutan.JPG|150x150px|]]
| Multiple districts
| Natural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site is the second largest national park in Bhutan.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5699/ Jigme Dorji National Park (JDNP)]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary]]
| [[File:Grus nigricollis -Bronx Zoo-8-3c.jpg|150x150px|]]
| [[Trashiyangtse District]]
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site is an important bird area in the Himalayas.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5700/ Bumdeling Wildlife Sanctuary]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| [[Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary|Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS)]]
| [[File:Korean magpie in Daejeon (side profile).jpg|150x150px|]]
| Multiple districts
| Cultural
| style="text-align:center;"|2012
| The site was established to protect a mythical race known as ''migoi'', as well as the wildlife within the site.
|<ref>[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5701/ Sakteng Wildlife Sanctuary (SWS)]. UNESCO World Heritage Centre (2020-07-09). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref>
|}

==Criticism of the "high quality, low volume" principle==
While Bhutan is successful in limiting the numbers of tourists who enter the country,<ref name="bbs.bt">[http://www.bbs.bt/news/?p=93784 Bhutan saw highest number of tourists last year – BBS | BBS]. Bbs.bt (2018-04-13). Retrieved on 2020-07-28.</ref> with its principle of "High Quality, Low Volume"<ref>Nyaupane, Gyan P. and Timothy, Dallen (2016) [https://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1490&context=ttra "Bhutan’s Low-volume, High-yield Tourism: The Influence of Power and Regionalism"]. Travel and Tourism Research Association: Advancing Tourism Research Globally.</ref> it can be argued, that a "high quality tourist" needs to be a wealthy tourist, because the hurdle of visiting Bhutan is mainly posed by the high pricing and not by actual interest or mindfulness.<ref>Schroeder, Kent (2017). "The Last Shangri-La?". Politics of Gross National Happiness: Governance and Development in Bhutan. Cham (Zug): Springer. p. 55. {{ISBN|9783319653884}}. Retrieved 25 January 2020. To drive increased tourism revenues, the earlier approach of 'high value, low volume' was replaced by 'high value, low impact'. This represented a subtle but significant shift.</ref>

==See also==
[[Image:Taktshang2.jpg|thumb|right|200px|[[Taktshang]] Monastery in [[Paro District]]]]

* [[Transport in Bhutan]]
* [[Visa policy of Bhutan]]
* [[Trans Bhutan Trail]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{wikivoyage-inline|Bhutan}}
* [http://www.tourism.gov.bt/ Tourism Council of Bhutan (Official Website)]
* [https://bhutan.travel/ Bhutan Tourism Official website]

{{Bhutan topics}}
{{Tourism in Asia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tourism In Bhutan}}
[[Category: Tourism in Bhutan]]