31/01/2013
Bhutan Selected as Finalist for
Tourism for Tomorrow’s Destination Stewardship Award
Kingdom of Bhutan Chosen among 133 Applications from 46 Countries
London – January 23, 2013 – The Kingdom of Bhutan, a tiny country nestled high in the Eastern Himalayas, has been selected as one of three finalists in the “Destination Stewardship” category for the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards hosted by the World Travel & Tourism Council.
The Destination Stewardship Award goes to a destination which successfully demonstrates a program of sustainable tourism, while incorporating social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits. This year’s awards panel received 133 applications from more than 46 countries on six continents, with Bhutan being shortlisted to the top three of this pool.
Since opening its borders to tourism in 1974, Bhutan has carefully nurtured its environment and protected its living culture, and Bhutan’s people have benefited from the resulting economic growth. Ensuring the happiness of its 750,000 people is at the core of Bhutan’s development, and the destination has long been known as a country that puts gross national happiness (GNH) ahead of gross domestic product (GDP). As noted by the World Travel & Tourism Council’s international judging panel, the Tourism Council of Bhutan adheres to not only GNH-driven practices, but also to a policy of high-value, low-impact tourism.
Bhutan is also known as The Land of the Thunder Dragon and is one of the last bio-diversity hot spots in the world. With 72% of the country covered in forests, 60% of the total land area protected, and its lands home to some of the world’s rarest and most endangered flora and fauna, Bhutan is an environmentalist’s dream. Visitors to Bhutan can marvel at the country’s varied landscape and witness for themselves how the modern world can be finely balanced with a traditional lifestyle.
For further information about the Kingdom of Bhutan, including its required daily minimum package, please visit www.tourism.gov.bt. For the complete list of finalists for the Tourism for Tomorrow awards, please visit www.wttc.org.
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About the Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB)
Tourism in Bhutan today is a vibrant business. The Tourism Council of Bhutan adheres to a policy of high-value, low-impact tourism. Tourism in Bhutan is founded on the principle of sustainability, meaning that tourism must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable, and economically viable. Bhutan does not limit tourist arrivals; in fact, tourism is now the government’s top priority. The Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes that tourism, in affording the opportunity to travel, can help in promoting understanding among people and building closer ties of friendship based on appreciation and respect for different cultures and lifestyles.
The minimum daily package covers:
A minimum of 3-star accommodation
All meals
A licensed Bhutanese Tour Guide for the extent of the stay
All internal transport
Camping equipment and haulage for trekking tours
All internal taxes and charges
A royalty of $65 which goes toward free education, free healthcare and poverty alleviation
How much is the daily rate?
The minimum daily rate is (for a group of 3 persons or more):
USD $200 per person per night for the months of January, February, June, July, August and December.
USD $250 per person per night for the months of March, April, May, September, October and November.
For more information about these details, or about the Tourism Council of Bhutan in general, please go to www.tourism.gov.bt.
Getting to Bhutan Today the main points of entry are through Phuentsholing in the south that links Bhutan with the Indian plains of West Bengal, through Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar that links with the Indian state of Assam and through Paro, where the entry is through Druk Air, the National airline ...
