Recently the government indicated that the decision to do away with the US $ 200 per day package may soon come into effect. People with concerns and experience have both spoken for and against the decision as always with any other changes….it is very difficult to impress everyone.

I have no experience in the tourism industry and don’t even know how much of the US$ 200 per day goes to the government and how much to the tour operators. But I have a few experiences of being asked on visits to Bhutan, the justifications for the 200 dollar, visa restrictions etc.

Because it was a government policy and it has very good guiding principles, I always proudly said we practice what we call “Quality tourism” because we have very small population, very rich traditions and strict environmental rules. I always managed to reason with the people who asked me these questions and at the end they depart convinced that it is a very good policy to preserve what we have.

When I was in Myanmar doing my MBBS in 1998 there were some students from Nepal. Since we stayed in the same hostel, during some celebrations in their embassy we were also called sometimes. During one such dinner we had the opportunity to talk with the Nepali Ambassador. We were discussing about tourism and he said “I really like your quality tourism policy. In nepal we have nothing like that and anyone who has just enough money to get a visa and pay for an air ticket comes there. Some of these tourists go to the cheapest hotels, have Roti for 15 Rs and then also ask for discount. What contribution will such tourists bring?” and I thought he has a point.

I also have personally seen tourists sleeping in bus stands, train stations and in the streets. There are also cases where people come in with just enough to buy a one way ticket and have to be deported back by the govrnment or their embassies.

So many people from Bhutan go out for studies to different countries. We have teachers, colleagues and friends who want to visit Bhutan. We cannot invite them and they can’t afford because of the cost.

Of all these, I think we also need to change and there is no harm trying out new ways. If it doensnt work out well we can always come back. So while I believe that the present system is good, I feel no harm in trying out a new change.

17 Comments

by Sabestian @ 03 Jan 2010

Gday
Iam really happy and delighted to hear this news. Wish it comes in action ASAP. Honest to godness Iam dying hard to visit the majestic kingdom.
Cheers!
Sabestian, Australia

by dolo @ 03 Jan 2010

In a way,$200 per day is not bad considering, that includes everything(hotel, transportation, guides, meals, entry fees).
Only thing I don't like about that is it offers no choise to the tourists. Who knows, if we remove the restrictions, most tourist might spend more than $200 a day.
A tourist eating in a cheap restaurent is not bad deal, it means it will support our small hoteliers instead of big ones.

by surprised-buddha @ 03 Jan 2010

Well doing away with the system of US 200/day will have both negative and positive effects. It will be good for those people who would like to visit Bhutan and certainly there will be healthy competition among the travel agencies and in the hospitality industry which will lead to improvement in the quality of services. The number of tourists visiting the country will increase which will lead to economic benefits. But then there will also be uncontrolled tourism along with its negative effects. The smaller agencies will slowly lose the battle and the fittest will survive. Money will accumulate in the hands of the bigger travel agencies. With larger number of tourists there will be equal repercussions on the culture and environment. We will make more money but at the higher costs. The brand of Bhutan in the eyes of the world will be no more. The niche will be gone. Any person can visit Bhutan and it will lose its unique country with a different tourism policy.
But being a country promoting GNH or rather the land of happiness we also need to share our happiness with other people who wish to visit our country and enjoy its beauty. We cannot deprive some and give the opportunity to only those who have big purse. Therefore, the govt. must strike a balance of all these. Reaping economic benefits but at the same time moving with slow pace so that we do not regret of the mistake made today. I only hope that govt. is making this decision after thoroughly reviewing the pros and cons. It is not about pleasing anybody but being mindful of the future of Bhutan and the world at large .... sustainability is the key work .... reaping the benefits at present without compromising the benefits for the future generations. I would think that there is a certain no. of tourists after exceeding which there should be the application of the US 200/day rule, afterall as said by someone, this amount is reasonable as it includes food, lodge and transportation.

by Freelancer @ 06 Jan 2010

If we can invite a foreigner (tourist) to work on the visa fee (a white man will definitely make it easier for other tourists (white people) to get into Bhutan, he is least bothered about our country and the culture), can we invite and consult ULFA militants to develop security strategies in the south?
What is happening to Bhutan? Why is GNHC spearheading this project which is aimed at short term developments?
Who the hell is this McKinsey guy? Who the hell is he to teach us how to prepare and eat emadatshi? Eff of with this guy.

by ozee @ 09 Jan 2010

we invite everyone to visit our nation. we want to share generously what we have to the world. however we don't want to be like other countries, who had avariciously destroyed their pristine environment and culture in the name of development. not by few tourist,...by uncontroable tourist. sorry friend! i love my country more than dollars-money buys everything and nothing.

i agree with mr. Freelancer.why did our government invite Mr. Mckinsey? he is reputed man in his country not in bhutan. how much money our government paid him to destroy our country. i wonder thousand dollars... just to destroy her. how piety!
instead of MR. MCKINSEY... i feel am right person to suggest our government on this issue... i know what he doesn't know and i know what he know too about my country. it'll be shame........... din't know what is good for my country and myself.
if our government really want to have more money...if it is the mission of our govt in doing away US-200/day.... i would have suggested our Govt to do away completely of US- 200 package. so that tourist can visit freely... free of cost just to destroy our uniqueness-everything...
please don't listen to MR MCKINSEY OF BHUTAN ...OBEY to MR MCKINSEY of USA... who has visited and stayed for few days. anyway thank you for your researched and finally doing way with US200/day. MCKINSEY SIR.
i have good idea..in 2013 election i shall invite SAME MR MCKINSEY to help me choose whom to VOTE.now i realize i am incapable of choosing leader for my country as i fail to know what is good for my country.MR>MCKINSEY Of USA is RITe person to help me. hope you 'll guide me to vote to the wrong man. m sure man!
....just my wildest thoughts,

by Mini @ 15 Jan 2010

The govt should not do away with the US$200 per
day package. They will attract cheap tourism, this will cause a serious impact on the culture and crime rate may increase.

Please let Bhutan remain a peaceful country forever.

by Ann @ 15 Jan 2010

Always remember the king and the people have put a lot of effort to preserve their own culture, traditional, nature ...., the govt should not destroy it.

Bhutan is a Pure and Peaceful Land now and future.

by Thinlay @ 15 Jan 2010

Welcome to the real world-a world driven by force of materilism and pursuit of profit maximization, a world driven by corporate culture whose sole motive is to plunder the earth of its beauty, clean air, pure water, forests, animals, birds etc., a world where political gurus preach principles, values, development model which they hardly practice, a world where humans are reduced to the state of slavery to force of materialism and desire to make more money, a world nobody trust anybody anymore, a world where human culture and religious objects are reduced to object of curiosity rather than for reverence, a world where leaders goes on preaching grandious ideals from the ivory tower that have no relevance to daily struggle and hardships faced by masses, a world where people's worth is based on what dress or kabney he/she puts on, what car he/she drives, how big his/her house is, to whom he/she is related to so on-----indeed a sad world.

But we could be different? but judging from what politicians in Bhutan are saying we are simply heading in direction which almost all countries in the world are heading--towards market economy, mass tourism, rat race where weak and vulnerable groups in societies are left behind in poverty and face slow death due to their inability to run or compete, destroying and plundering already depleted natural resources, towards economic development that generate forces that will eventually destroy our planet.

I thought our present government has something unique to offer to Bhutanese and world at large, but from what i hear and know so far, it is like any other political party.

Cheers

by Mini @ 15 Jan 2010

Clean air, pure water, beautiful birds and animals are difficult to see in other countries, but can find these only in Bhutan.

Mckinsey never understand what Bhutanese want and need in the country.

by Mrs. Willow @ 15 Jan 2010

The change of Toursism policy might be due to some smooth talker chilps who supposedly are helping Bhutan develop. Their main aim to to increase revenue for Bhutan, so that we Bhutanese can enjoy short term benefits from the dollars earned. Do you believe they will think of perserving our culture, nature and .......

The chilip lots are here to have an extended holiday, fresh air, fresh food, comfortable life with Bhutanese maids, and all they do is talk bad of our govt.

so smart bhutanese think hard and if the consequence of this move is not good, please sign a strong petition and stop this Bill...

by Ann @ 15 Jan 2010

Climate is changing because people in this world pursuit of materialism... trying to make more money, destroying the forest. They have forgotten to perserve our culture, nature ......
Don't let the tourists to destroy bhutan, peaceful, culture, traditional, nature.

by sabestian @ 15 Jan 2010

Gday
Iam really surprised to hear and know couple of my mates here dont agree with this new rule. We do have a good tourism industy here in Austrlia on top of that we do offer working holiday visa to most of the EU nations. Upto my knowledge I have never ever felt that those tourist have ruined our culture, nature or whtever we mention it. To be honest $200 per day is really ripping off tourist. I do have heaps of pals here who have been there had the same view.
Cheers
Sabestain, Australia

by domc @ 16 Jan 2010

The only culture restriced tourism policy is preserving is making those already established tourism companies(BTCL, Etho metho, etc. richer and making ti difficult for new companies to enter the market.
is that what everyone wants, rich becoming richer and poor poorer.
Besides who is to say tourist won't spend more than $200 a day given teh freedom. Most of them could easily spend more than that amount a day. And the benefits will spread around.
For example, instead of forcing them to eat at some high end hotel, they can try our and dine at their pleasure at small local restaurents.

by Mini @ 18 Jan 2010

The govt should improve the waiting time for applying the visa and the air ticketing during the peak season. Provide good service to the tourists... like foods, transportation .....

The govt should not do away the US$200 per day package. There are many ways to attract tourists to Bhutan.

by Ann @ 18 Jan 2010

if US$200 per day is too expensive, the govt may reduce the rate to US$150 per day to attract tourists.

But they should not totally do away with the US$200 per day package.

by Ann @ 18 Jan 2010

Mrs Willow, you are right -...... Bhutanese can enjoy short term benefits.....

But the change of policy might bring in militrant or terrorist to bhutan. We need quality tourists not cheap tourists.

We want a peaceful bhutan.

by Culture Chowkidar @ 28 Jan 2010

The RGoB's decision to bring in a change in our tourism policy will bring about some positive changes in the tourism industry, at least in the way it is being operated today. My reasons are as follows:

1. The tourism industry is kind of monopolized although not in true sense of the term. Few big operators call the shots yet people never question the service they provide.

2. The industry is operated by many ‘lazy’ operators who somehow get away with a good profit if he is able to manage even 5-6 tourists a year. This really breeds inefficiency.

3. The current system leaves the tour operators with no incentive at all to improve their services through cost cutting measures. At the end of the day, they have the 100-130 dollars to fall back on after keeping away a meager 20-30 dollars for the logistics needs of the tourist they are suppose to take care of.

4. With the government liberalizing the industry, everybody is put on an equal footing besides giving them a good run for their money. It will keep them on their toes.

5. The operators will compete to provide better services and this much-required sense of competition and service orientation that is completely missing now will find its way to Bhutan too- by the way, have you guys heard a guide talking to darn anyone?

6. Tourism will not become cheap here with the RGoB still going to levy a 65 dollar-royalty on the operators. That is what is in order even today too, except that the operators pocket the rest.

7. A high tourism levy is not the only way to curb menace related to an explosion in the number of tourists visiting the country. RGoB will have to frame special policies and regulations in place to ensure that the tourists do not ‘barge’ into our cultural and religious sanctuaries. We have similar regulations even now and it is reasonably effective.

8. But the most effective weapon of all is our own people. If our people take guard of our country, cultural invasions that many are worried of will not happen. Look at now. We don’t have many tourists coming in. We just have the TVs and it has already done much damage.