(TAN): Bhutan might change its current policy on tourist tax to curb visitor growth in the country, reports said.
At present, each international visitor has to reportedly spends at least USD 250 per day during peak season and USD 200 during the rest of the year. However, visitors from India, Bangladesh and Maldives, touted as regional tourists, are not required to comply with the rule.
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But that might change very soon, with Bhutan reportedly trying to regulate the arrival of tourists that could put the delicate Himalayan ecosystem at risk. The country, aiming for a ‘High Value, Low Impact’ tourism policy, might introduce a mandatory daily travel expenditure policy for regional tourists as well.
The Director-General of Tourism Council of Bhutan, Dorji Dhradhul, has reportedly confirmed that such a plan was in place.
The daily spend of USD 250 includes a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 65, a USD 40 visa charge, entry fees, a tourist guide, accommodation, food and non-alcoholic beverages, reports said. Regional tourists have been excluded from paying any of these charges until now. They are also allowed entry into the Himalayan country without a visa. But soon SDF and a permit processing fee could be levied upon them, making holidaying in Bhutan dearer than before.
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“Being predominantly a leisure destination, Bhutan attracts family groups from India or Bangladesh. The ‘Sustainable Development Fee’ alone will cost a family of five INR 22,000 extra for a short trip. That is quite high for budget-conscious tourists, who constitute 65-70% of the total number of Indian visitors to Bhutan. In fact, the impact will be quite visible if the total fee exceeds INR 500 per person daily,” Samrat Sanyal, General Secretary of Himalayan Hospitality and Tourism Development Network was quoted by the Economic Times as saying.
