In an effort to boost its economy, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will reopen to foreign visitors in September for the first time since the pandemic started more than two years ago, officials announced on June 30.
When the first COVID-19 case was discovered there in March 2020, the country, wedged between China and India, which has picturesque natural beauty and ancient Buddhist culture, took immediate and dramatic action and prohibited tourists, a significant source of income.
Less than 60,000 infections and only 21 fatalities were reported in the constitutional monarchy of fewer than 800,000 people, yet the $3 billion economies shrank during the past two fiscal years, forcing more people into poverty.
The 23rd of September will mark the beginning of visitor entry, according to the Bhutan Tourism Council (TCB).
The Sustainable Development Fee, which was $65 for the past three decades, will now be $200 per visitor per night. Officials claimed the new tax would reduce the carbon footprint of travelers.
In a statement, TCB chairman and the nation’s foreign minister Tandi Dorji stated, “COVID-19 has allowed us to reset — to reassess how the sector may be best constituted and operated… while keeping carbon footprints low.”
According to the authorities, Bhutan has updated its regulations for service providers, including hotels, travel companies, guides, and drivers.
