The principle of 'high-value, low impact' tourism development, a guiding tourism growth of Bhutan is highly commendable and has undoubtedly contributed to the unique tourism brand of the country until now.
This policy has paid off well to the objective of maximizing foreign exchange earning while minimizing the potential adverse environmental and cultural impacts. The framework was pinned down in line with the unique development concept of Gross National Happiness.
Tourism has been the second only to hydropower interms of revenue generation, with the policy of imposing a USD 200 to 250 per person per day tariff (including USD 65 royalty charged by the government plus food, accommodation, local transport and guides). With this revenue generation, tourism in Bhutan succeeded in providing a source of good government income , while at the same time making tourism in Bhutan an exclusive and distinctive destination.
I personally do not see USD 65 royalty waive for the tourists visiting eastern Bhutan a only solution for the issue of promoting tourism to 6 eastern dzongkhags. This royalty waive to eastern Bhutan will incur huge loss on government revenue, and at the same time clearly defying the policy of high-value, low-impact with promotion of mass tourism in eastern Bhutan indirectly. I also feel that this royalty waive will create the country with different rule and regional biasedness as there are few other dzongkhags with the least or same tourists arrival than the those 6 eastern dzongkhags.
The issue can be confronted by working into making Bhutan a year-round tourist destination (solving the seasonality challenge) and by building good road networks and infrastructures in all parts of Bhutan (making all places accessible and convenient).
Tourism has been the second only to hydropower interms of revenue generation, with the policy of imposing a USD 200 to 250 per person per day tariff (including USD 65 royalty charged by the government plus food, accommodation, local transport and guides). With this revenue generation, tourism in Bhutan succeeded in providing a source of good government income , while at the same time making tourism in Bhutan an exclusive and distinctive destination.
I personally do not see USD 65 royalty waive for the tourists visiting eastern Bhutan a only solution for the issue of promoting tourism to 6 eastern dzongkhags. This royalty waive to eastern Bhutan will incur huge loss on government revenue, and at the same time clearly defying the policy of high-value, low-impact with promotion of mass tourism in eastern Bhutan indirectly. I also feel that this royalty waive will create the country with different rule and regional biasedness as there are few other dzongkhags with the least or same tourists arrival than the those 6 eastern dzongkhags.
The issue can be confronted by working into making Bhutan a year-round tourist destination (solving the seasonality challenge) and by building good road networks and infrastructures in all parts of Bhutan (making all places accessible and convenient).
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