Tourism in Bhutan

Tourism in Bhutan began in the country since 1974. It was introduced with the primary objective of generating revenue, mainly foreign exchange, publicizing the country’s unique culture and traditions to the outside world, and contribute to the country’s socio-economic development. The royal government has always been aware that an unrestricted flow of tourists can have negative impacts on Bhutan’s pristine environment and its rich and unique culture. The government, therefore, adopted a policy of “high-value low volume” tourism, controlling the type and quantity of tourism right from the start.

The government privatized tourism in October 1991 to encourage private sector participation in the tourism sector. There is no quota or limit on the number of tourists allowed to visit Bhutan. Instead, the volume of tourists coming to the country has been constricted by the capacity constraints of tourism infrastructure. Today the policy is revised as “high value-low impact.” The tourism industry has made significant contributions to the socio-economic development of the country, especially after the privatization of the industry in 1991.

Bhutan Visa

All tourists must obtain a visa clearance before traveling to Bhutan.  Visas are processed through an online system by your licensed Bhutanese tour operator directly. You are required to send the photo page of your passport to your tour operator, who will then apply for your visa.  The visa will be processed by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) once the full payment of your holiday (including a USD 40 visa fee) has been wire transferred and received in the TCB bank account.  Upon realization of payment, the visa clearance will be processed within 72 working hours. At your point of entry, you will be required to show your visa clearance letter, and the visa will then be stamped into your passport. The policy of ‘high-value low impact’ tourism is best supported by the system set by the government all-inclusive of a minimum daily tariff.

Getting in Bhutan

Getting in Bhutan is easier than you may think; the most common entry point is from Kathmandu Nepal. The reasons why most travelers choose Kathmandu are:

1. There is a direct flight from Kathmandu to Paro (Bhutan) daily by Druk Air, the national airline of Bhutan, and four flights a week by Bhutan Airlines.  Because most travelers consider Kathmandu as their entry port to Paro, the trip to Paro is comparatively cheaper.
2. Flying this route is a lifetime experience you will never forget.  You will be rewarded with a magnificent view of 8 of the highest peaks on Earth, including Mt Everest, cascading ranges, hundreds of other peaks, mountain valleys, pastureland, lakes to soft mountains towards the eastern ranges of Himalayas.
3.  Secure and faster visa processing without 100% down payment in advance through our Nepal Bhutan travel agency, unlike most of the Bhutan travel agencies, who will ask for 100% package payment in advance due to their government policies.
4. “Kill two bird with one stone” Over 95% tourist who makes Kathmandu as their transit point to travel to Paro-Bhutan also have the opportunity to see the country “Nepal” at the same time.
5. Dear readers, Let us know in the comment section below if we missed anything in this list, which makes Nepal an excellent transit point before traveling Bhutan?.

However, Bhutan can also be entered by direct flights from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhaka, Bangkok, and Singapore Changi Airport (as well as a few other smaller cities in India).  It is also possible to drive into Bhutan from India, but the flight is the most common and stress-free mode of entering Bhutan.

Best Time to Visit Season

Off-Season: December, January, February, June, July & August
High Season: March, April, May, September, October & November

Bhutan Package Cost

Tariff in Bhutan is based daily irrespective of any activities you chose or any itinerary you choose. NO HIDDEN COST AND EXTRA TAX

Season	1 Pax	2 Pax	3 Pax & Above
Low season	$ 240 (200 + 40)	$ 230 (200 + 30)	$ 200
High season	$ 290 (250 + 40)	$ 280 (250 + 30)	$ 250

The minimum daily package covers the following services.

• A standard 3-star accommodation. (4 & 5 stars may require an additional premium).
• All meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
• A licensed Bhutanese tour guide.
• All internal road transport (excluding domestic flights)
• Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
• All internal taxes and charges

(A sustainable development fee of $65, retained by Tourism Corporation of Bhutan. This goes towards free education, free healthcare, poverty alleviation, along with the building of the infrastructure of the country)

If you enjoyed reading this article share it with your friends and family! This might be the missing exclusive information they were looking for! We would also appreciate it if you could give us a rating below. You can also comment us below.