The Bhutanese Leading the way.
India is still dominating the tourism numbers in the country as 3,589 Indian tourists visited Bhutan in January, which accounts for 75.5% of the total tourist visits in the month.
Bhutan had a total of 4,751 tourists in the country for January, out of which 3,152 entered the country via the Phuentsholing gate, 1,493 entered via the Paro airport and the remaining 69 people entered via the Samdrup Jongkhar gate.
In 2024, Bhutan recorded a total of 145,065 tourist arrivals in 2024, out of which 94,280 were Indian accounting for 65% of the total tourist arrivals in Bhutan.
Indian tourists visiting Bhutan enjoy unique travel benefits that set them apart from other international visitors.
For example, while non-Indian tourists are required to pay a USD 100 Sustainable Development Fund (SDF) fee, Indian travelers only pay Nu 1,200, making Bhutan a more budget-friendly destination for them.
Indian tourists express that Bhutan is a place for them to find solace since it is very peaceful and quiet. The proximity of the two countries are also a contributing factor in ease of visiting the country.
“I came here, like most of my friends, to rest and explore the monuments i have always wanted to. I came here from the Phuentsholing gate and so far, I do not regret coming here. I think that many of the Indian tourists visit Bhutan for a breath of fresh air and new scenery,”,said Priya, a tourist from Kolkata.
“I get some Indian passengers that come here for meetings and some Indian tourists, that help me earn extra income when they go for long rides and want to explore the capital during their time off,” said a taxi driver in Thimphu.
While India led by a wide margin, other significant contributors to Bhutan’s tourism industry in January included the USA, China, Bangladesh, Singapore, the UK, Taiwan, and Australia. Canada and Brazil rounded out the top 10 source markets.
