Tourism through selection?
This is what Bhutan, a kingdom in South Asia that is already very picky about welcoming travelers, intends to develop (it only opened its borders to foreign tourists in 1974).
In a press release published on June 29, the government announced the reopening of the country without restrictions (end of the fifteen-day quarantine) on September 23, 2022. All travelers should, however, be subject to the "test and go": the obligation to undergo a PCR test on arrival and self-isolate in their hotel awaiting the result.
Another major change: the removal of the daily package (called the Minimum Daily Package Rate), which required travelers to spend a minimum of $250 ($200 out of season) per day, a rate that included accommodation, meals and famous tax (Sustainable Development Fee), previously set at 65 dollars.
This abolition will allow tourists to choose their accommodation, their guides and their catering options with more flexibility (no need to go through a tour operator certified by the authorities to organize their stay).
The only counterpart: the tax does not disappear.
She even sees her amount triple.
It will now be necessary to pay 200 dollars (about 190 euros) per day to the government to tread the soil of Bhutan.
Read alsoVenice will become paying for tourists: what you need to know
Foster “high value” tourism
According to the government press release published in June, this tax will be used to “
finance and build a more sustainable tourism sector
”.
An economic selection and assumed by Bhutan, which summarized this strategy by the following formula “
High value, low volume
”.
Clearly, respectful tourism rather than mass tourism: “
Tourism is a strategic value and a national asset
” declared in the press release the director general of the Bhutanese tourism board, Dorji Dhradhul.
"
Ensuring its ecological sustainability is vital to ensure the safety of future generations,
" he added.
The tone is set for tourists seeking to discover the Himalayas.
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