Bhutan’s tourist policy revamp may hit travel operators in eastern India
Travel operators in eastern India are apprehending a strong impact on their business after Bhutan changed its policy on tourist entry fee. Currently, Bhutan charges every foreign visitor $250 per day, including a $65 ‘Sustainable Development Fee’ (SDF) and $40 visa charge. However, ‘regional tourists’ from India, Bangladesh and Maldives were not subjected to the SDF and visa fee.
Bhutan is now going to introduce SDF and a permit processing fee for the regional tourists as well and a draft policy on the matter may be receive approval by the end of December.
“Introduction of mandatory government fee for every incoming tourist, including those from India, will cut down the number of Bhutan-bound Indian tourists. As a common practice, almost all of them spend at least two nights in the eastern Himalayan region, which includes Sikkim and the West Bengal foothills,” said tourism consultant Raj Basu.
