Bhutan is more than ready to embrace travelers, visitors and tourists from all parts of the world this coming September. Talking about the reopening date, an official reiterated that, the kingdom will be opened for the first time in 3 years.
The main reason that necessitated the closure of the Bhutan kingdom was the emergence of COVID-19. The pandemic wrecked the tourism sector and led to a decrease in the patronage of the tourist site. Thus, the reopening of the site seeks to boost the economy of those living in and around the Bhutan enclave. In March 2020, there was an outbreak of COVID-19 which led to the Bhutan kingdom being closed to visitors, tourist and visitors. Bhutan then took urgent steps to close down and banned all tourists from entering its borders.
With a population of not less than 8,00,000 the Bhutan tourist site recorded about 6,0000 COVID-19 infections. The tourist site also lost a whopping amount of USD 3 billion. The loss of this huge sum of due to the pandemic led to the impoverishment of the people living in and around the Bhutan enclave. It also reduced the amount of money the tourist site gets every fiscal year, leading to a tremendous budget deficit for the board of directors to contend with.
The worse case scenario is over now as the Tourism Council of the Bhutan kingdom (TCB) have categorically emphasized that, it will be allowing and opening its doors to all and sundry to enter the kingdom from September 23 this year.
As per the latest reports, the visitors will however be charged a fee that will be used for the proper maintenance and cleanliness on both the environment and the edifice. Tourists were charged USD 200 per night which has been increased to USD 65 charged three years ago.
The officials who have the expertise and technical know-how added that, the new fee will control and minimize the rate at which carbon impact the environment. The chairman of the TCB who also doubles as the nation’s foreign minister Tandi Dorji released a statement emphasizing that, the COVID-19 has advised them to reset and put in place proper plans for the ensuring years to come. Hence, the management will see to it that, the right things are done and properly executed.
They also brought to the table principles which will be implemented henceforth. He again explained that, the kingdom has revised the standards for the service providers such as operators, hotel staff, drivers, and guides. These standards are meant to provide the needed working environment to ensure the proper maintenance of the kingdom.
Tourism in that vicinity employs more than 5,0000 people and it also contributes an annual average of about USD 84 million during the pre-pandemic period. All these sums of money provided foreign exchange for the indignes and workers at large. The data of TCB proved that, tourist patronized the kingdom in their large numbers but the figure skyrocketed to about 315600 in 2009. Hence, if not for the emergence of the pandemic, the kingdom would have remained one of the most prosperous tourist sites in the world. But the pandemic hampered and buried all those glossy prospects.
In addition, tour operators were of the view that, visitors and tourists would be given their free will to plan their itineraries and choose their own operators and guides. Hence, they would fill an online form to decide whether a particular guide, chef or cook should serve them or not.
They are of the view that, this will help the tourist to have a larger section of freedom to enable them enjoy their stay better. Some of the tour guides were also of the view that, the revised fee will deter tourists and not boost the number of tourists as expected. Hence, only those with adequate amount of money will patronize the kingdom which won’t lead to the success and prosperity of the kingdom.
It is interesting to note that, Bhutan is the only country in the world that have totally abolished the sale of tobacco and its related products. Hence, visitors are welcome from all parts of the world to peacefully and coherently experience the glamour that accompanies the Bhutan kingdom.
Credit: TIMES OF INDIA
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