[happymover]

I always had thought of riding/driving to Bhutan, when I happen to make a trip to the country. But after getting to know about the new rules, especially the one where we need to have a guide accompanied, I was not much interested.
Since the family were planning to do a Bhutan trip, I thought to join them just to tick it off from the list. We were family of 10 pax, flew to Siliguri and visited all major tourist places in a "Toyota Coaster" bus. Barring City of Paro & Tiger Hills, I did not enjoy anything else. Of course there are valleys and forests, but nothing exceptional which you cannot see in "Our India".
Entry fees are definitely on higher side for almost all places. Amenities for tourist are not so great. (Ex:- No clean toilets near to the top of Tiger Hills)

After the trip, I was relieved/glad that I did not spend much for it.

[SMIT2024]

Originally Posted by IP_Man

Conclusion: It has become exorbitantly costly to take your own car to Bhutan. Taking bike is out of question.

I do understand where the rules are coming from, as in, it is a way to generate local employment and also increase tourist revenue.
For the average Indian traveler however, this looks more of a hassle, and would only result in creating more stress when you are looking to actually get away from it while on a holiday...

[jithin23]

I was lucky enough to travel with my family in my blue EcoSport 6 years ago. Even then and now their focus is only on tourists who value and understand their culture and who are filled with deep $$$(India and Nepal were an exception till Covid) as tourism and hydroelectricity are their only major sources of revenue. However they should have retained the exemption for India as they are heavily dependent on India for their logistics.

Back then even student discounts(about 50%) were offered in major tourist places. We utilized that as my sister and I were students back then.

Even back then, guide(was optional in some cases) and hotel bookings were mandatory and strictly no solo travelers or backpackers. Even cooking stoves aren't allowed.

Here's my travelogue for reference : https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/trave...cosport-2.html (An unplanned drive: Bangalore to Bhutan in an EcoSport)

I understand the part that a few people from our country had done stupid stuff and disturbed the religious sentiments of Bhutanese people. However, they could have ensured a permanent ban on those particular people and not punish the entire country by overcharging so much as India is a strong helping hand for Bhutan even in terms of defense or resources. This really limits the appeal of visiting Bhutan as it already is severely restricted by air too.

[ajmat]

Originally Posted by jithin23

I understand the part that a few people from our country had done stupid stuff and disturbed the religious sentiments of Bhutanese people. However, they could have ensured a permanent ban on those particular people and not punish the entire country by overcharging so much as India is a strong helping hand for Bhutan even in terms of defense or resources. This really limits the appeal of visiting Bhutan as it already is severely restricted by air too.

I guess these actions are to convey a message to conform and be respectful. Am sure some of these will be rolled back once people toe the line

[DigitalOne]

How senior citizen friendly are Bhutan's tourist places? The itinerary suggested by the tour operator is:





Are most of these places easy for senior citizens? The senior citizens are ~75 years, healthy and mobile but can't walk long distances or climb too many stairs.

[14000rpm]

Read this recently -

United States has placed Bhutan on its travel ban list, citing national security concerns and irregular migration patterns. The decision, which follows a 37% rise in Bhutanese visa violations, has sparked debates about its impact on U.S.-Bhutan relations.

Link

This is quite a shocker actually about Bhutan.

[DicKy]

Originally Posted by 14000rpm

Read this recently -



Link

This is quite a shocker actually about Bhutan.

Since they are just mentioning the 37% increase, am going to wager that the base itself was too low. Hence the massive increase percentage wise.

Just my guess.

[camitesh]

I just came back from Bhutan and I can understand these concerns about increasingly expensive tourism which are also shared by local people. While Indians have to pay ₹1200 per day as Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), foreigners have to shell out $100 per night (was $200 per night in 2023). I met a Nepalese friend who has been wishing to visit Bhutan with his family since a while and $100 per night of SDF being also applicable to him doesn’t make this any easier. A family of 4 foreigners pays $2800 just in SDF for a week of visit besides all other expenses. This is not cheap by any means and expensive than tourism visas of most countries by a stretch.

I travelled with lots of local drivers and they are hopeful of getting the SDF reduced significantly or relaxation on having mandatory daily guides to boost the tourism by 2026. While on the topic of drivers, they drive much sensible and alert than what we have seen back here. And yes, most of them don’t wear seatbelts. They have good cars there including latest MGs and KIAs with seatbelt alarms which they easily bypass through the cheap seatbelt buckle clip which is mostly plugged in.

Like someone else said earlier, Indian landscape and terrain in North and North east provides far more to an average tourist at a fraction of cost. But Bhutan is a beautiful and happy country that I wish people get to visit at least once to tick it off from the bucket list. Getting to see Mt. Everest and other highest mountains while on your way to challenging yet beautiful Paro airport is just another cherry on top of the cake

[White bird]

Originally Posted by IP_Man

I had driven to Bhutan in my own car in the pre-covid era, and had paid absolutely minimal fees. I had just shown them a quote of the home stay and it was accepted.

Bhutan is not exploiting anyone. They are just doing what is good for their country. Bhutan used to give concessions to Indian citizens earlier, but the spit anywhere, shit everywhere, rape anyone, type of Indian tourists who came in large gangs took advantage and created havoc. They have done a good thing so that law abiding decent tourists can go around safely around the country.
I have been to Bhutan quite a few times. I have seen what the thrash tourists from some northern Indian states have done there. Even rich Indian tourists have been caught several times robbing from hotels and home stays. The country is clean and safe now that these uncivilized thrash have been restricted entry, something Kerala did years ago by restricting back packers from accessing the beaches and other tourist places.
Don't blame the Bhutanese, it's the Indian tourists who are responsible. Tourism in Bhutan is not going to become bankrupt just because thrash tourists are kept away. In fact it will improve because more high spenders will be attracted.

[praful]

Having visited Bhutan in 2016 on a motorcycle, I explored the country a bit. I somewhat agree with these changes!

Previously, similar tariffs were imposed upon western tourists, but tourists from India, Nepal, and I think Nepal & Sri Lanka as well were exempt from this rule.

The permits were relatively easy and an inexpensive process for us.

But one thing that stood out was the kind of tourists coming from our own country. It was embarrassing to say the least. And, we felt this also led to a bit of anti-India (for tourists, not the country) sentiment.

I very evidently remember a couple of instances from the trip which I found quite disturbing -

1. The sun was setting over the capital town of Thimphu, and we were at the scenic Buddha Dordenma statue. A scene of peace and serenity, where people, mostly locals and a few tourists, were in a state of quiet reflection. The tranquil was shortly broken by a mini-bus load of loud tourists who arrived and disrupted the entire atmosphere with their screaming out to each other and amongst one another.

2. We were atop Chelela Pass at nearly the end of the day. There was then only one snack "tapri" shop that was open, and there were a couple of cars around. Some locals, some tourists! Two things happened here, first a car load of tourists tried to ask the snack shop owner for some tea and snacks in a language (no points for guessing which!) they didn't understand. They then switched to broken English, which was enough to convey their needs and for the transaction to be completed. I am pretty sure they hadn't just freshly arrived from across the border, as Chelela pass is some way away, thus they should have been aware of the situation by now. But this could be forgiven for a lack of knowing how to manage cultural differences. They had parked their car right next to the only dustbin in sight, yet when they left, all the waste was thrown everywhere except the bin. A little while after they left, the shop owners muttered 'dirty Indians' in hushed tones. I heard it, and as infuriating as it was to hear that, I couldn't help but sympathise with the shop owner after having witnessed the spectacle unfold before me.

3. To go beyond Thimphu to the far eastern part of Bhutan, one needed advanced permits. After having secured the first part of it, we had to go to something like an RTO office to get some further signatures (I don't recall the whole procedure!) The entry into the office parking had a long line of vehicles (the majority of which were local vehicles, with a spare few from India) to get in, and everyone was patiently waiting their turn to get in by being on their side of the road. But not the guy in the car behind me. He was honking incessantly behind me to break the line (also because I was on a motorcycle and thus should have been easier for me to do it). The first opportunity he got, he broke the line, cutting across oncoming traffic and pulling usual stunts. Again! No points for guessing which country that car was from. And to add fuel to the fire, he had the audacity to scream and shout at me from across the parking lot. I decided not to escalate the situation further and chose to continue to ignore him.


IMHO, Bhutan does not need this kind of tourists. Their philosophy is not driven by capitalist ambitions, and for that reason, I think this is a welcome move. Yes, I'm miffed at the fact that it is probably now too expensive for me to visit the country again, but I'd rather that Bhutan retains its cultural authenticity than become like any other over-exploited tourist destination that we have in India. Leh, Shimla, Goa, Ooty and the like are examples that come to mind when thinking about over-exploited tourist destinations in India, especially having experienced them in the 90s and having had the opportunity to revisit most of them later in life in recent years!

[Nilesh5417]

Originally Posted by praful

IMHO, Bhutan does not need this kind of tourists. Their philosophy is not driven by capitalist ambitions, and for that reason, I think this is a welcome move. Yes, I'm miffed at the fact that it is probably now too expensive for me to visit the country again, but I'd rather that Bhutan retains its cultural authenticity than become like any other over-exploited tourist destination that we have in India. Leh, Shimla, Goa, Ooty and the like are examples that come to mind when thinking about over-exploited tourist destinations in India, especially having experienced them in the 90s and having had the opportunity to revisit most of them later in life in recent years!

100% with you! Indian tourists have a new found confidence in their being Indian but have absolutely forgotten that humility and respect for culture was one of our strongest virtues / identity. Not taking crap from anyone does not equate to being loud, boisterous and disrespecting. Our crowds think respect = free pass to do anything and everything!

I have had numerous experiences in Europe where our people in group tours leave the hotel restaurant looking like a war zone - half eaten food on plates, cutlery and food all over the floor, used tissues strewn all around. Each time there is an Indian group, the hotel chains employ Asians in the restaurant cause the locals simply cant deal with the madness. Breaking protocol, being noisy, being insensitive to others etc is so common!

On a trip to a monastry in Gangtok, a couple of families with kids simply walked inside with shoes on!! Their kids were pillaging through the table and books of the students who were monks. The kids then picked up the prayer beads and put them in their bag. All this inspite of boards everywhere instructing the tourists to treat this as a place of prayers and education, asking them to keep quiet, leave the footwear behind and not touch anything. I simply couldnt take this nonsense and called the security at the gate.

And trust me, it's not only us. The backpacking type of global crowds you get in Goa, Gokarna, Leh, Himachal / Uttarakhand South East Asia are no better! These folks indulge in all kinds of questionable things, look for cheap long term bargains and i don't think are anyways educated, earning, tax paying folks contributing anything back in their own country. It's pretty much the folks you wouldnt want as tourists cause they don't bring any value to your economy, ruin a place over long term.

Am glad Bhutan doesn't care about money and it wants to remain a country that values well being and happiness. I have heard a lot about how much Nepal has changed now and hope Bhutan stays the way it is.