Visiting Bhutan can pinch your pockets as Bhutan’s lower house on Monday passed a legislation that makes it mandatory for visitors from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives to pay a fee of Rs 1,200 per day for its ‘sustainable development’ from July this year.
The Himalayan kingdom, which is concerned about its ecology and environment, decided to impose the fee following an increase in Indian tourists. There was a ten percent hike in the number of tourists from the three countries who visited Bhutan in 2018.
Currently, international tourists have to pay approximately $250 (Rs 18,000 approx) as a minimum charge per day per person that included $250 charge along with a $65 “Sustainable Development fee” and a $40 visa charge. The tourists from India, Bangladesh and Maldives didn’t have to pay any charge as of now.
However, as per the new legislation Indians are reported to be charged a Sustainable Development Fee and a “permit processing fee”
