The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Earlier this year in March, the Ministry of Industry Commerce and Employment (MoICE) asked the Bhutan Innovation Lab office under the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to study the issue of duration discount, group discount and other tourism related issues.
In the earlier system, after the 9th night, tourists got a 50% SDF discount, and after the 15th night it was a 100% SDF discount. This encouraged longer stays by tourists.
In the older system, there was a group discount which meant that if there is a pac of 10 tourists then one of them or the tour leader would get a 50% discount on SDF by the old TCB, airfare by Druk Air and even hotels.
If someone brought a pac of 15 tourists then one of them would get a 100% discount on everything and enjoy everything free.
However, MoICE did not want to just bring back the old duration discounts, but do it more scientifically, and if necessary, even give it for shorter number of nights.
A source said the MoICE received the report from the BIL and asked for some changes which was done and MoICE is giving the final touches.
The source said the aim is to shorten the duration discounts. Thus means the 50% discount after the 9th night maybe reduced by one to two days and the days would also be reduced for the 100% discount.
Similarly, for the group discount the aim is reduce the group size so that a smaller group can get the group discount.
The above, it is hoped, will increase dollar paying tourists and also encourage then to spend more time in the country and go to less visited areas like central Bhutan, eastern Bhutan, southern Bhutan etc.
There will be no change in the SDF and the borders towns will continue to have the same policy of 24 hours SDF discount only.
