Bhutan Welcomes All: No cap on tourists visiting the Kingdom

Bhutan will not impose any limits on the number of visitors, despite earlier concerns, according to recent reports. Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer of Bhutan Tourism, confirmed this, addressing the misconception of a visitor cap, emphasizing, "There is no capping on the number of tourists."

Though Bhutan introduced a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF)—USD 100 per person per night for foreign visitors and Rs 1,200 for Indian nationals—the influx of tourists remains steady. The country has successfully promoted its 'High Value, Low Volume' policy, prioritizing environmental conservation and sustainability. Nimah explained, "Bhutan always had a slightly different approach when it comes to tourism strategies. So, Bhutan's tourism strategy is 'high value, low volume'. Bhutan is not the mass tourism destination. it has never been, it doesn't want to be."

Revenue from the SDF is used for a variety of initiatives, including free healthcare and education for Bhutanese nationals, sustainability projects, and infrastructure upgrades. Nimah clarified, "There is no cap in place, there is a misperception that we limit how many people come here. This is not true. We welcome everyone. In 2019, which was the busiest year for tourism in Bhutan, we welcomed around 3.5 lakh people and this for a population of 7.5 lakh is a considerable number. Still, we did not put a cap on the number of people coming to Bhutan."

Bhutan began welcoming international visitors in 1974 to showcase its rich spiritual, cultural, and natural heritage. This year marks the 50th anniversary of opening its borders to tourists. While popular destinations include Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha, Nimah highlighted that there are many lesser-known areas in Bhutan, waiting to be discovered.