Bhutan Is Making It Easier to Visit to Revive Its Economy
There’s good reason to visit the Himalayan Kingdom now, before bigger crowds descend.
People gather to watch masked dances and get blessings at the annual Thimphu festival.
Source: Bhutan Department of TourismFor a country that’s long prioritized a balanced lifestyle and good governance over economic gain, Bhutan is doing something it’s never done before: embrace more independent, cost-conscious travelers in an urgent bid to revive its faltering economy.
Tshering Tobgay, now prime minister, characterized Bhutan’s economy as “on the brink of collapse” in a November 2023 election manifesto for his People’s Democratic Party, citing an average economic growth rate of just 1.7% over five years. As a result, Bhutan is seeing high levels of youth unemployment and dwindling foreign currency reserves. Tourism is seen as a major lever to pull.