Do you need a visa to visit Bhutan?

18.01.2024 - 07:43 / lonelyplanet.com

Bhutan is one of the most fascinating and remote travel destinations in the world. And its tourism model and visa system are famously unlike any other in the world.

The country is committed to “high value, low impact” tourism – in other words, maximizing the financial benefits visitors bring while minimizing their environmental and cultural impact. In Bhutan's case, “high value” means that visitors have to pay a fixed daily fee (sometimes called a tourism tax) in order to secure a visa. This makes the Himalayan kingdom one of the most expensive countries on earth to visit. And also one of the most sustainable.

With the exception of Indian nationals, every traveler needs a visa for their visit to Bhutan. But that’s only the last of many steps you need to take in advance of a once-in-a-lifetime trip here. If you’re tempted to take the plunge (and who wouldn’t be?), we’ve compiled the latest travel rules and a step-by-step guide to arranging a trip to this utterly unique and magical place.

Bhutan’s system of tourism reflects the country’s prioritizing of “Gross National Happiness” over mere gross national product. Environmental stewardship and the preservation of traditional lifestyles have long guided tourism regulations. As the country adapts to post-pandemic travel trends, it has made recent changes to its system.

Until 2020, almost all foreign tourists were charged a flat minimum fee of US$250 per person, per day for a fully organized tour. Of this, US$65 went to the government to help fund free education and healthcare for Bhutan’s citizens; the rest went towards tour costs.

But in 2022, the Bhutanese government announced a new system, whereby the daily government charge, now branded the “Sustainable Development Fee (SDF),” was tripled to US$200 per person, per day – with this now being in addition to your actual travel costs. This change meant that tour prices were no longer fixed, leaving companies free to levy their own charges based on customer demand and preference.

Coming just after the pandemic, the big jump in fees hit Bhutan’s tourism industry hard – and after pushback from local businesses, the government announced in 2023 that the SDF would be halved to US$100 per person, per day until 2027. Which means that if you’ve always dreamed of visiting Bhutan, you might want to start planning now, before prices rise again in 2027.

Where exactly does this daily fee go? On top of helping pay for free healthcare and education, the SDF funds everything from conservation and sustainable tourism practices to carbon offsets and organic farming. Bhutan’s singular system has also contributed to Bhutan becoming the first carbon-negative country on earth – actually absorbing more carbon dioxide than it produces.

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