Touring Bhutan soon to become more expensive
Nearly two years ago the Bhutan government was set to increase the minimum daily tariff for tourist travel in Bhutan to $250 per day. As a result of the global economic meltdown and fewer arrivals, however, the rates have stayed same, thus far, but that is going to change next year and the year after.
Hailed as the last remaining Shangri La, Bhutan has been a destination namely for the upscale clientele because of the relatively high daily rates charged to tourists. Another reason is that organized tourism is the only way to visit Bhutan. Having learned the adverse effects of tourism, trekking and tours in Nepal, independent travel is not allowed in Bhutan.
In order to tour Bhutan, all tourists have to book an organized tour and prepay the arrangement. All arrangements must strictly follow government set tourism guidelines. The daily tariff must be all-inclusive and include lodging for the entire tour, all meals, all transfers and transportation in a private vehicle with clients’ own guide and driver that has to be with the clients throughout their entire stay.
A unique feature of the daily tariff is that 35% of the sum goes to government coffers as royalty or tax that the Bhutan government uses to fund health care, education and variety of other public projects. High Gross Domestic Happiness, as the Bhutanese measure the satisfaction of the population, seems to support the tourism policy.
Primary reason for the daily tariff is to limit tourism, and not to let it run wild. Bhutan practices High Price, Low Volume policy, meaning they prefer few tourists with money rather than too many shoe-string travelers that could flood the country and severely alter its cultural makeup if allowed to run free on their own and stay too long.
Effective January 1, 2012, all Daily Tourist Tour Tariff will increase from US$ 200 to US$ 250. The rate will apply to tourist travel throughout the year. The present Low Season discount, applicable to three month of the year, January, July and August, will be discontinued starting July, 1, 2011, and will pave the way for the minimum daily tariff increase that will follow six month later.
If you want to enjoy Bhutan for less, go this fall, the best time of the year to visit Bhutan, or in the spring of 2011.
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