Bhutan’s tourism has evolved remarkably over the past five decades — from a modest start in the 1970s to a dynamic, policy-driven industry that now plays a vital role in the nation’s economy.

Below are the key milestones that have shaped this journey:

      •     1971: Department of Tourism (DOT) established

      •     1972: Tourism Rules adopted at the 36th session of the National Assembly

      •     1983: DOT transferred to Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC) under the Ministry of Communications

      •     1991: BTC transformed into the Tourism Authority of Bhutan (TAB); tourism privatized to 33 tour operators

      •     1999: TAB moved to the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI)

      •     2000: Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) established

      •     2007: Hotels and Restaurants Association of Bhutan (HRAB) formed

      •     2008: Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) created

      •     2009: Guide Association of Bhutan (GAB) established

      •     2008–2019: Regional tourism boom (mainly from Bangladesh, India, and the Maldives)

      •     2015: Handicrafts Association of Bhutan (HAB) founded

      •     2020: Tourism Levy Act introduced, replacing the regional tourism system and applying concessional SDF for Indian visitors

      •     March 20, 2020: Bhutan closed to tourism due to COVID-19

      •     2021: Tourism Policy of the Kingdom of Bhutan launched

      •     September 22, 2022: “Bhutan Believe” national brand introduced

      •     September 23, 2022: Reopening of the country for tourism

      •     2022: TCB placed under the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Employment (MOICE)

???? Arrivals Trend

The number of tourists visiting Bhutan has fluctuated through the years, reflecting both internal policy shifts and global circumstances:

Year      Total Arrivals Notes

1974     287

1989     1,480   

1999     6,203   

2008     44,982  17,344 regional tourists

2011     100,833 53,223 international tourists

2016     209,570

2019     315,599 243,410 international

2020     29,812  COVID-19 impact

2021     1    Ms. Frances H. Bak (USA)

2022     21,409 

2023     103,066

2024     107,121 As of October