Bhutan officially reopens to travellers

bhutan buildings early in the morning with mist

Bhutan has reopened its doors to international arrivals, removing its hotel quarantine and COVID vaccination requirements.

As the South Asian country has reopened, Bhutan’s government has introduced a sustainable development fee for tourists. The daily fee is US$200 (AU$306) and is meant to “mitigate (the) negative impact of tourism on (the) cultural landscape and natural environment” of the country, according to The Print.

Bhutan has had a “high value, low volume” tourism policy to preserve the natural resources of the country. This required visitors to be part of a package tour and pay a daily $65 “sustainable development fee.”

This has now been scrapped and travellers will have to pay the daily $306 fee to the government. Officials said that the new policy rebrands Bhutan as “an exclusive destination,” attracting “discerning tourists” who have more access to a wider range of higher-quality services.

Tour operators are worried about the change, which they believe will leave them with little business.

“Just when we thought we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnel after two-and-a-half years of being out of business, the government’s tourism amendment bill has thrown us back in the darkness and we have no idea how to go about it,” Pelden Dorji, the CEO of the Bhutan Travel Club, said.

The previous policy meant that all bookings and payments had to be made through registered local tour operators.

“It’s basically a package tour that lets you see an authentic, untouched corner of paradise while protecting itself from being invaded by tourists,” said Megan Petersen a London-based makeup artist who visited Bhutan in 2017.

Bhutan’s Government officials said the previous policy discouraged out-of-pocket spending, as many travel agents would organise the holiday so that travellers’ daily spending did not exceed the $250 daily rate.

In anticipation of Bhutan’s reopening, G Adventures announced it will be the first group adventure operator to take travellers along the Trans Bhutan Trail when its inaugural, sold-out, departure leaves on 2 October 2022.

Yves Marceau, vice president of product at G Adventures, said the global small group operator is excited to be bringing tourism dollars back into so many local communities, with 1400 trips departing in September, and Bhutan following in October providing an incredible example of community tourism in action.

Two new Active trekking itineraries are available to book with G Adventures in Bhutan into 2023. There is an 11-day Camp the Trans Bhutan Trail trip which features camping and homestays, and a 12-day Highlights of the Trans Bhutan Trail itinerary with accommodation in homestays, locally-owned guest houses and hotels.

The two tours focus on trekking specially selected parts of the 403-km trail and connecting with local people to learn about Bhutanese life and culture, thus combining active travel and cultural immersion with the benefits of community tourism.

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bhutan Bhutan Travel Club g adventures Pelden Dorji Trans Bhutan Trail Yves Marceau