Indian Tourists To Be Charged Extra Tax To Travel To Bhutan

Bad news for all those travelers who are planning a visit to Bhutan. The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) has ready a draft that states a new extra tax charge goes to be applied to travelers from India, Maldives, and Bangladesh.

The Tourism Council of Bhutan said that the draft will be finalized by the Bhutanese cabinet in December.

The latest draft was discussed by Bhutanese government minister Tandi Dorji with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in Delhi on Monday.

Currently, tourists from international destinations pay $250 (Rs 18,000 approx) as a minimum charge per day per person, which includes a $65 a day "Sustainable Development Fee", as well as a $40 visa charge. Whereas tourists from India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives do not need to pay any fees or carry a visa.

However, under Bhutan's new draft tourism policy, Indians would be charged a sustainable Development Fee, as well as a "permit processing fee".

Considered to be one among the happiest places in the world, Bhutan has always been at the top of every traveler's bucket list. except for the beautiful scenery of the mountains and green terrains, Bhutan is serene, surreal and tranquil.

With little cottages and monasteries, Bhutan may be a country each human aspires to go to a minimum of once in their life. however appears like traveling to Bhutan goes to become a bit costlier, particularly for Indian tourists.

"The new charges are necessitated by the sharp increase in tourists from the region, mainly India, who cross over the land boundaries. In 2018 about 2,74,000 tourists visited Bhutan. Out of that 1,80,000 were alone from India", according to the media report.