Located between China and India, the world's two most populous countries, high in the Himalayas, sits Bhutan. Known as the Land of the Thunder Dragon, it's a Buddhist monarchy of only 700,000 residents. But this once-hidden kingdom has been gradually opening up to the world.
Most foreigners who have heard of Bhutan know two things: the country charges international visitors a $150/day sustainable development fee (aka tourist tax), and that it is the birthplace of the Gross National Happiness Index, a system intended to look after the well-being of citizens and the environment. This year marks 50 years - the golden jubilee - since Bhutan first opened its doors to the world in 1974. From the very beginning, Bhutan embraced a policy of "high value, low volume" tourism, and has remained committed to sustainable tourism long before it became a global trend.
The first group of tourists to Bhutan consisted of eight Americans, five Spaniards, and one Argentinian, who undertook a long and challenging journey by road, as no airlines were operational at that time. The allure and unique charm of the Himalayan kingdom drew hundreds more guests in the following years. However, it wasn't until 1983, with the launch of Bhutan's national airline, Drukair, that tourism truly flourished, making travel to and from Bhutan significantly more accessible.
Over the years, Bhutan has steadily welcomed more guests, with a peak in 2019 at around 320,000 guests per annum. The Sustainable Development Fee .
