Bhutan drafts tourism policy approves two new tourist entry points

A CORRESPONDENT

TANGLA: In a move to boost the flow of tourists, Bhutan has approved two new tourist entry points at Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar as part of the Economic Contingency Plan (ECP). Currently, Phuentsogling and Paro are the only two tourist entry points in the country. According to the ECP, the Tourism Council of Bhutan will be setting up the new entry points with integrated check post at Gelegphu and Samdrup Jongkhar. The move to set up the new entry points is in preparation for the re-opening of the tourism sector once the pandemic subsides and also to take advantage of the favourable weather conditions in the southern foothills during winter.

As per Bhutan Tourism monitor report 2018, around 35 per cent of the international tourists who visited Bhutan in 2018 cited Bhutan's favourable weather condition as the primary reason for their visit. Also, most tourists visited the western and central parts of the country.

Meanwhile, as part of programmes to prepare the sector for re-opening post COVID-19, the government of the Himalayan kingdom has also drafted an interim Standard Operating Protocol to be implemented until the full Guideline for Management of Regional Tourism is rolled-out as part of the National Tourism Policy.

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