50 pc discount on SDF for tourists visiting Bhutan

KATHMANDU, August 26:The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment of Bhutan has announced incentives to boost the tourism sector. The government of Bhutan has announced to provision 50% discount on the prevailing Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of USD 200 for US dollar-paying tourists visiting Bhutan. 

The effective SDF with the discount shall be USD 100 per person per day for US Dollar paying tourists, and a 50% discount on the SDF shall be granted on the rates applied to children aged between 6 to 12 years visiting as tourists.

The 24-hour SDF waiver for tourists staying in the border towns will continue. The above incentives will come into effect from 1 September 2023 and shall remain effective for four years till 31 August 2027. 

The ministry's announcement stated that the government would conduct periodic assessments of the domestic and international tourism scenarios and may discontinue the above incentives to uphold and promote the High-Value Low Volume Tourism Policy after August 31, 2027.