Bhutan to tighten tourist inflow

Kartik Kumar · 27th November 2019, 14:57

I am thinking of a trip to Bhutan next year and that $50 per day, per person is going to give me serious pause. That is steep because one still has to budget for acco, food, travel, entry fees etc. after that $50. Perhaps Sikkim or Uttarakhand or Ladakh will appreciate my business more.

That said, I do agree why Bhutan would not want the disruptive, entitled Indian tourist to visit them. The considerate ones are considerably fewer in number unfortunately. Racism against Indians I don't think will be a factor in Bhutan unlike the West.

hothatchaway · 5th February 2020, 07:32

The much talked about SDF is finally here, Indian tourists to be charged RS 1200 per day from July 2020

Quote:

Ending decades of free entry to Indian tourists visiting Bhutan, the government in Thimphu has decided to levy a daily ₹1,200 ($17) fee for “regional tourists” from India, the Maldives and Bangladesh, beginning July 2020. The fee, called a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), is meant to help the government deal with burgeoning numbers in tourist traffic, which it is seeking to regulate through a new tourism policy.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.the...37792.ece/amp/

ninjatalli · 5th February 2020, 12:10

The Hindu

This is actually a good move; albeit it does draw invisible lines from a expense perspective putting budget tourists at a disadvantage.

A few additional points that have to be considered wrt the 1200 INR/day SDF charge

- Applicable from July 2020 (not 100% clear if the Indian govt can still do something on this decision till then)

- Indians form nearly 70% of the total tourists with the numbers reaching 19 lakhs; a majority coming during holiday seasons (e.g. Durga Puja)

- The SDF charge would not apply for tourists traveling to the eastern (11 out of 20) districts, from Trongsa to Trashigang; as generally the western regions are more developed/traveled to

- The SDF charge is zero for kids upto the age of 5 and 600 INR/day for ages 6 to 12

- Still a far less amount than the $250/day fees (inclusive of $65 SDF charges & $40 visa fees) that foreigners have to pay

- Applicable to only folks from India, Bangladesh and Maldives

27th November 2019, 14:57	#46
Kartik Kumar BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 119 Thanked: 27 Times	Re: Bhutan to tighten tourist inflow I am thinking of a trip to Bhutan next year and that $50 per day, per person is going to give me serious pause. That is steep because one still has to budget for acco, food, travel, entry fees etc. after that $50. Perhaps Sikkim or Uttarakhand or Ladakh will appreciate my business more. That said, I do agree why Bhutan would not want the disruptive, entitled Indian tourist to visit them. The considerate ones are considerably fewer in number unfortunately. Racism against Indians I don't think will be a factor in Bhutan unlike the West.
	() Thanks

5th February 2020, 12:10	#48
ninjatalli Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 3,801 Thanked: 15,583 Times View My Garage	Re: Bhutan to tighten tourist inflow The Hindu This is actually a good move; albeit it does draw invisible lines from a expense perspective putting budget tourists at a disadvantage. A few additional points that have to be considered wrt the 1200 INR/day SDF charge - Applicable from July 2020 (not 100% clear if the Indian govt can still do something on this decision till then) - Indians form nearly 70% of the total tourists with the numbers reaching 19 lakhs; a majority coming during holiday seasons (e.g. Durga Puja) - The SDF charge would not apply for tourists traveling to the eastern (11 out of 20) districts, from Trongsa to Trashigang; as generally the western regions are more developed/traveled to - The SDF charge is zero for kids upto the age of 5 and 600 INR/day for ages 6 to 12 - Still a far less amount than the $250/day fees (inclusive of $65 SDF charges & $40 visa fees) that foreigners have to pay - Applicable to only folks from India, Bangladesh and Maldives
	(1) Thanks