The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In the month of May, the country recorded a total of 29,879 tourist arrivals. This figure includes both regional and international visitors.
Compared to the same month in the previous year where 23,547 tourists visited the country, this marks an increase of 6,332 tourists. The numbers have gone up by approximately 26.8%. Out of the total number, 23,001 tourists were from India, while 6,332 visitors came from countries other than India.
India remains the leading source market for tourists, contributing the highest number of visitors at 23,001. Following India, the United States of America accounted for 1,125 visitors, making it the second-largest contributor. China ranked third with 663 tourists. Other notable countries included Singapore with 407 visitors, Vietnam with 374, and Malaysia with 339. Thailand sent 270 visitors, while 255 visitors came from the United Kingdom. Spain contributed 231 tourists, and Australia followed with 200, rounding out the top ten source markets.
The average length of stay for tourists from India during May was five days. Tourists from countries other than India had a slightly longer average stay of six days, which means that an average Indian tourist contributed around Nu 6,000 in SDF, and a visitor from countries other than India contributed around Nu 49,200 in SDF.
In terms of how tourists entered the country, the majority chose the Phuentsholing gate, with 18,696 people using this entry point. The second most commonly used gateway was Paro International Airport, which saw the arrival of 11,061 tourists. A smaller number of visitors entered Bhutan through the Samdrup Jongkhar gate, totaling 98. Meanwhile, 15 tourists came in through Gelephu, and 9 entered via Nganglam.
In 2024, a total of 64,941 visitors till May and so far, this year there is a total of 85,873 visitors. This means 20,932 tourists more than last year for the same period.
In the month of January last year there was total of 4,414 visitors and this January there was a total of 4,951 visitors.
Similarly, 5,767 people visited the country last year in February and 5,761 people visited the country this February.
14,822 people visited the country last March and 17,742 people visited the country this March.
16,391 people visited the country last April and 28,674 people visited the country this year.
23,547 people visited the country last May and 29,876 people visited the country this May.
Bhutan got a total of 145,065 tourists in 2024 of which 94,280 were Indian tourists and 60,785 were third country tourists.
The number in 2023 was 103,066.
The tourism industry has been asking for duration discounts, relaxation of SDF in border areas and SDF discounts for eastern and southern Bhutan.
The absence of duration discounts have nearly killed the trek based tourism sector where tourists used to go on month long adventure treks.
This also comes as the hotel and tourism sector is the highest in the loan deferral category at Nu 11.724 bn and hotels continue to complain of empty rooms.
A major tour operator said that at the current rate the number by the end of the year will be 150,000 to 160,000 which is well below what is needed to sustain the tourism industry.
