Travelling to Bhutan to become costlier for Indians

In a new turn of events, Bhutan is planning to levy charges on tourists visiting the country from regional countries, including India, the Maldives, and Bangladesh. These countries were exempted from any charges till now. As per the latest tourism policy draft prepared by the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB), which will likely be finalised next month by the Bhutanese Cabinet, the new charges have been brought into effect with the sharp increase in tourists from the region, mainly India, who cross over the land boundaries.
This latest draft was recently discussed by Bhutanese Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi.
At present, tourists visiting Bhutan from international destinations had to pay $250 (INR 18000 approx) as a minimum charge per day person, in which $65 was labelled as Sustainable Development Fee per day, and $40 as visa charges. All this while, tourists from the Maldives, India, and Bangladesh were not required to pay any fees or carry a visa. Reports suggest that in 2018, of the 274000 tourists that visited Bhutan, the council estimated that around 200000 were from the region, of which around 180000 were from India, in contrast to other international tourists, who had to pay $250.
However, as per the latest tourist draft policy, Indians will also now be charged with Sustainable Development Fee and permit processing fee.
Referring to this development, the Bhutanese Foreign Minister denied that the new charges are aimed at cutting down tourism numbers, especially from India, and that in the next few years, it wants to allow them to ‘grow in a sustainable manner.’ In fact, the Bhutanese Government wants to stop regional tourists from using low-rent accommodation offered online, which has led to mushrooming of several unregulated homestays and guest houses.