Tourist hotspots around the world are considering how best to regulate and manage the return of visitors post-pandemic — Venice, for example, will introduce a daily tax of between €3 and €10 in January. The little Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, however, is taking the concept to another level. When its borders finally reopen on September 23, tourists will have to pay a “sustainable development fee” of $200 per person per day.
The move, which will be closely watched by other governments and tourism agencies, is designed to encourage “high value, low volume” tourism, maximising economic benefits while limiting the impact on Bhutan’s traditional culture. The country has long been comparatively isolated, not allowing the first tourists to visit until 1974, and not getting television until 1999.
“Covid-19 has allowed us to reset — to rethink how the sector can be best structured and operated, so that it not only benefits Bhutan economically, but socially as well, while keeping carbon footprints low,” said Tandi Dorji, the country’s foreign minister and chair of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, as he announced the new policy. “In the long run, our goal is to create high-value experiences for visitors, and well-paying and professional jobs for our citizens.”