<p>Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country, is slashing the tourist fee to boost its economy by attracting as many visitors as possible. It is all set to halve the $200 daily fee from September this year, in a bid to revive the country’s tourism sector still reeling after COVID-19.</p>

<p>Bhutan ended its Covid restrictions two years ago but introduced a tourist fee of $200 per visitor per night under its "Sustainable Development Fee" programme. It justified the increase by saying that the money would go to offset the carbon generated by visitors.</p>

<h2><strong>New tourist fee model in Bhutan</strong></h2>

<p>As reported by Reuters, the new rate of $100 per night would come into effect from September and last for four years.</p>

<p>A government statement issued Friday (August 25) said, “This is in view of the important role of the tourism sector in generating employment, earning foreign exchange ... and in boosting overall economic growth."</p>

<h2><strong>Bhutan’s long-term goals</strong></h2>

<p>Bhutan is working to completely overhaul its tourism sector. It wants to increase the contribution of tourism to its $3 billion economy to 20 per cent from the current 5 per cent.</p>

<p>Dorji Dhradhul, director general of the Department of Tourism, said the halving of the fee could boost arrivals in the September-December peak tourist period, which includes many religious and cultural events in the mainly Buddhist country.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Bhutan-China: New Tango? | Bhutan moving away India's embrace?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p>In June, the government relaxed regulations for tourists seeking to stay longer in the country, yet there has not been a rapid increase in arrivals.</p>

<p>According to Dhradhul, Bhutan has welcomed over 56,000 tourists since January. However, around 42,000 of them are Indian nationals, subject to a fee of just 1,200 Indian rupees ($14.5) per day.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhutans-latest-comments-on-doklam-region-raise-concerns-for-india-576921"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Bhutan PM’s latest comments on Doklam dispute resolution raise concerns in India</strong></a></p>

<p>The tourism sector in Bhutan employs approximately 50,000 locals. It used to generate about $84 million annually in foreign exchange before the pandemic struck.</p>

<h2><strong>Why Bhutan charges tourist fee?</strong></h2>

<p>In an effort to protect the integrity of its mountains, Bhutan has refrained from permitting mountain climbing, underscoring its long-standing concern about the consequences of mass tourism.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Consequently, the tourist fee has restricted the influx of visitors to those willing to spend more, thus forming only a small fraction of the volume seen in neighbouring Nepal.</p>

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Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country, is slashing the tourist fee to boost its economy by attracting as many visitors as possible. It is all set to halve the $200 daily fee from September this year, in a bid to revive the country’s tourism sector still reeling after COVID-19.

Bhutan, the world’s first carbon-negative country, is slashing the tourist fee to boost its economy by attracting as many visitors as possible. It is all set to halve the $200 daily fee from September this year, in a bid to revive the country’s tourism sector still reeling after COVID-19. Bhutan ended its Covid restrictions two years ago but introduced a tourist fee of $200 per visitor per night under its "Sustainable Development Fee" programme. It justified the increase by saying that the money would go to offset the carbon generated by visitors. New tourist fee model in Bhutan As reported by Reuters, the new rate of $100 per night would come into effect from September and last for four years. A government statement issued Friday (August 25) said, “This is in view of the important role of the tourism sector in generating employment, earning foreign exchange ... and in boosting overall economic growth." Bhutan’s long-term goals Bhutan is working to completely overhaul its tourism sector. It wants to increase the contribution of tourism to its $3 billion economy to 20 per cent from the current 5 per cent. Dorji Dhradhul, director general of the Department of Tourism, said the halving of the fee could boost arrivals in the September-December peak tourist period, which includes many religious and cultural events in the mainly Buddhist country. Watch: Bhutan-China: New Tango? | Bhutan moving away India's embrace? × In June, the government relaxed regulations for tourists seeking to stay longer in the country, yet there has not been a rapid increase in arrivals. According to Dhradhul, Bhutan has welcomed over 56,000 tourists since January. However, around 42,000 of them are Indian nationals, subject to a fee of just 1,200 Indian rupees ($14.5) per day. Also read: Bhutan PM’s latest comments on Doklam dispute resolution raise concerns in India The tourism sector in Bhutan employs approximately 50,000 locals. It used to generate about $84 million annually in foreign exchange before the pandemic struck. Why Bhutan charges tourist fee? In an effort to protect the integrity of its mountains, Bhutan has refrained from permitting mountain climbing, underscoring its long-standing concern about the consequences of mass tourism. Consequently, the tourist fee has restricted the influx of visitors to those willing to spend more, thus forming only a small fraction of the volume seen in neighbouring Nepal. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Bhutan halves tourist fee to $100 per night in bid to boost economy

<p>As Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck turned 43 on Tuesday (February 21), his seven-year-old son became the country's first digital citizen in his second official engagement. Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck was onboarded with the Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) mobile wallet as the country’s new digital identity system, which boasts of 'cutting-edge technology', was launched. The launch of the platform has been hailed as a huge step in the government's digital transformation efforts. "Bhutan NDI uses cutting-edge technology to provide citizens with secure and verifiable identity credentials, ensuring the privacy and protection of their personal information," read a post on the official Instagram page of the Bhutan King.</p>

<p>"The system uses the 'self-sovereign identity' model based on Decentralised Identity (DID) technology, which gives people more control over their personal information and who can access it," the official note further added. The digital identity system will be rolled out to all Bhutan citizens gradually. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Born on February 5, 2016, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck is the first child of King Jigme Khesar and Queen Jetsun Pema. He is hailed as "The Gyalsey", the title for Bhutanese heir to the throne.&nbsp;He undertook his first official engagement in June 2022.</p>

<p><strong>Also Watch: South Asia Diary: Bhutanese monks pay respect to Buddha's relics in India</strong></p>

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<h2>More about Bhutan NDI</h2>

<p>Bhutan says it is the first sovereign government in the world to create national digital identity system in self-sovereign framework. The launch of the system has been also called as a "major step forward in transforming the way services are delivered in both public and private sectors". The system —&nbsp;developed by Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) for the government — aims to bring a positive change in the way citizens and visitors interact with the government.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="http://13.235.153.162/south-asia/china-bhutan-agree-to-expedite-negotiations-to-resolve-border-dispute-552580">China, Bhutan agree to expedite negotiations to resolve border dispute</a></strong></p>

<p>"Bhutan NDI will ensure that the citizens and residents can access the services they need in a secure and efficient manner. We aspire to be pioneers in this technology space in solving problems within and beyond our boundaries," said Ujjwal D. Dahal, Director, DHI InnoTech.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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As Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck turned 43 on Tuesday (February 21), his seven-year-old son became the country's first digital citizen in his second official engagement.

As Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck turned 43 on Tuesday (February 21), his seven-year-old son became the country's first digital citizen in his second official engagement. Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck was onboarded with the Bhutan National Digital Identity (NDI) mobile wallet as the country’s new digital identity system, which boasts of 'cutting-edge technology', was launched. The launch of the platform has been hailed as a huge step in the government's digital transformation efforts. "Bhutan NDI uses cutting-edge technology to provide citizens with secure and verifiable identity credentials, ensuring the privacy and protection of their personal information," read a post on the official Instagram page of the Bhutan King. "The system uses the 'self-sovereign identity' model based on Decentralised Identity (DID) technology, which gives people more control over their personal information and who can access it," the official note further added. The digital identity system will be rolled out to all Bhutan citizens gradually. Born on February 5, 2016, Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck is the first child of King Jigme Khesar and Queen Jetsun Pema. He is hailed as "The Gyalsey", the title for Bhutanese heir to the throne. He undertook his first official engagement in June 2022. Also Watch: South Asia Diary: Bhutanese monks pay respect to Buddha's relics in India × More about Bhutan NDI Bhutan says it is the first sovereign government in the world to create national digital identity system in self-sovereign framework. The launch of the system has been also called as a "major step forward in transforming the way services are delivered in both public and private sectors". The system — developed by Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) for the government — aims to bring a positive change in the way citizens and visitors interact with the government. Also read: China, Bhutan agree to expedite negotiations to resolve border dispute "Bhutan NDI will ensure that the citizens and residents can access the services they need in a secure and efficient manner. We aspire to be pioneers in this technology space in solving problems within and beyond our boundaries," said Ujjwal D. Dahal, Director, DHI InnoTech. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Bhutan Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, 7, is country’s first digital citizen

<p>A joint sitting of both houses of&nbsp;Bhutan’s parliament approved a bill on Thursday to legalize gay sex, making the tiny Himalayan kingdom the latest Asian nation to take steps towards easing restrictions on same-sex relationships.</p>

<p>Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalised “unnatural sex”, widely interpreted as homosexuality.</p>

<p>Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel considering the changes, said 63 of the total 69 members of both houses of parliament had voted in favour of amending the code to scrap the provision. Six members were absent.</p>

<p>“Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now,” Wangdi told Reuters by phone from the&nbsp;Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, without giving details.</p>

<p>The changes still need to be approved by the King of&nbsp;Bhutan&nbsp;to become a law.</p>

<p>Rights activist Tashi Tsheten said he was "thrilled and really happy" over the parliamentary move, calling it a “victory” for the LGBT+ community.</p>

<p>“I think the bill being passed on Human Rights Day itself is a momentous day for everyone in&nbsp;Bhutan,” Tsheten, the director of LGBT+ group, Rainbow&nbsp;Bhutan, told Reuters.</p>

<p>“I believe everyone who has stood up for the LGBT+ community in&nbsp;Bhutan&nbsp;is going to celebrate today as this is our victory”.</p>

<p>The move by the majority-Buddhist nation of 800,000 people comes after other Asian countries relaxed restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ people.</p>

<p>Neighbouring India removed a centuries-old colonial prohibition on gay sex in 2018, triggering celebration across the country.</p>

<p>In Nepal, authorities will count LGBT+ people for the first time in the national census next year to help sexual minorities gain better access to education and health schemes.</p>

<p>Bhutan&nbsp;is famous for its "gross national happiness" index as an alternative to gross domestic product to indicate real economic progress or development.</p>


A joint sitting of both houses of Bhutan’s parliament approved a bill on Thursday to legalize gay sex, making the tiny Himalayan kingdom the latest Asian nation to take steps towards easing restrictions on same-sex relationships.

A joint sitting of both houses of Bhutan’s parliament approved a bill on Thursday to legalize gay sex, making the tiny Himalayan kingdom the latest Asian nation to take steps towards easing restrictions on same-sex relationships. Sections 213 and 214 of the penal code had criminalised “unnatural sex”, widely interpreted as homosexuality. Lawmaker Ugyen Wangdi, the vice chairperson of a joint panel considering the changes, said 63 of the total 69 members of both houses of parliament had voted in favour of amending the code to scrap the provision. Six members were absent. “Homosexuality will not be considered as unnatural sex now,” Wangdi told Reuters by phone from the Bhutanese capital of Thimphu, without giving details. The changes still need to be approved by the King of Bhutan to become a law. Rights activist Tashi Tsheten said he was "thrilled and really happy" over the parliamentary move, calling it a “victory” for the LGBT+ community. “I think the bill being passed on Human Rights Day itself is a momentous day for everyone in Bhutan,” Tsheten, the director of LGBT+ group, Rainbow Bhutan, told Reuters. “I believe everyone who has stood up for the LGBT+ community in Bhutan is going to celebrate today as this is our victory”. The move by the majority-Buddhist nation of 800,000 people comes after other Asian countries relaxed restrictions on the rights of the LGBT+ people. Neighbouring India removed a centuries-old colonial prohibition on gay sex in 2018, triggering celebration across the country. In Nepal, authorities will count LGBT+ people for the first time in the national census next year to help sexual minorities gain better access to education and health schemes. Bhutan is famous for its "gross national happiness" index as an alternative to gross domestic product to indicate real economic progress or development.

Bhutan parliament decriminalises homosexuality, to delight of activists

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Bhutan halves tourist fee to $100 per night in bid to boost economy

Bhutan Crown Prince Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck, 7, is country’s first digital citizen

Bhutan parliament decriminalises homosexuality, to delight of activists