No more waiver, Bhutan to levy charges on Indian tourists

News:Bhutan has released the new draft tourism policy.

Facts:

About the policy:

• The policy plans to levy charges on tourists from regional countries including India, Bangladesh and the Maldives who at present are exempted from any charges.
• These new charges have been necessitated by the sharp increase in tourists from the region mainly from India who cross over the land boundaries.
• The Tourism Council of Bhutan will also plan to keep a track of the amenities offered across all the hotels in Bhutan.It will also control the vehicles entering Bhutan’s borders and making sure only a limited number of tourists travel in these vehicles.
• Further,Bhutan Pay Commission has also recommended that the government should levy a minimal Sustainable Development Fee(SDF) on regional tourists.