Bhutan will celebrate the golden jubilee of tourism for the next six months, from June 2 to December 17 this year. This year marks the golden jubilee since Bhutan opened its doors to the world in 1974. The Department of Tourism (DoT) launched the campaign commemorating this milestone yesterday in the Buddha Dordenma statue at Kuensel Phodrang in Thimphu.
Bhutan’s tourism journey began in 1974, coinciding with the coronation of His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. From the beginning, Bhutan embraced the “high value, low volume” policy and has remained committed to sustainable tourism long before it became a global trend. This approach aimed to generate revenue from tourism while sharing Bhutan’s rich cultural heritage with the world, ensuring a balanced and mindful development of its tourism sector.
The first group of tourists to Bhutan consisted of eight Americans, five Spaniards, and one Argentinian, who undertook a long and arduous journey by road, as Bhutan did not have an airline then. Like these pioneering 14 visitors, the allure and unique charm of the Himalayan kingdom drew hundreds of more guests. However, it was not until 1983, with the launch of Bhutan’s national airline, Drukair, that tourism flourished, making travel to and from Bhutan significantly easier.
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay said the government was immensely proud to celebrate 50 years of tourism. “This milestone is a celebration of what has been achieved since Bhutan opened its doors to th.
