Bhutan is a unique blend of the old and new. Here is a country that is slowly opening up to the modern world in a fine balance with its ancient traditions. Those fortunate enough to visit Bhutan describe it as a unique, deeply spiritual and mystical experience. This kingdom is an adventure like no other. The absence of neon lights, billboard advertising, takeaway food chains, traffic lights, etc is refreshing.
Inspite of all the goodies of nature Bhutan is maintaining its serenity because of the budget required to visit Bhutan. Next year the tourism board has informed that the Minimum cost per person would be $250 for an all-inclusive package including accommodation, food and transport. The price has been hiked from $200 as of now. Foreign tourists are required to book through licensed tour operators. So for a couple, on a high season holiday, at Bhutan would be $500.
Besides others that Bhutan can offer to the world, is its pristine environment that is almost intact. Bhutan’s high, rugged mountains and valleys boast of spectacular biodiversity, earning it a name as one of the world’s ten most important biodiversity hotspots. Perhaps this was possible as the government pursues a policy of "high-end, low-impact tourism,'' deliberately keeping out the hordes. Otherwise innumerous back packers would have treaded the country and probably left their foot prints on the culture of the Bhutanese.
Recognizing the importance of environment, conservation of its rich biodiversity is one of its development paradigms. The government has assured of maintaining 60% of its forest resources for all times to come through the recently enacted law passed by the National Assembly.
About the hike, "It may not make economic sense now to be high end, but Bhutan will be preserved for future generations of visitors,'' the director general of the Tourism Council of Bhutan, Kesang Wangdi, said. Next year the council hopes to boost visitor numbers to 100,000 by offering new types of holiday and improving flight links to cities such as Hong Kong and Singapore.
Bhutan famously follows an economic development doctrine known as "Gross National Happiness,'' which takes into account the mental well-being of its nearly 700,000 citizens instead of simply measuring financial gain. The remote and reclusive country, never colonised despite its position between India and China, puts protecting the environment and preserving its unique culture at the heart of its policy decisions.
Hollywood stars Leonardo di Caprio and Keira Knightley are among those to have recently stayed at the ultra-high-end Uma Paro resort, one of a number of luxury hotels catering to wealthy travellers in the country
The main points of entry to this pristine kingdom 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 of Bhutan.
