Bhutan to charge US$200-a-night tourism tax

More countries are predicted to follow suit, charging sustainability fees on arrival

The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan will charge a tourism tax of US$200-a night when it reopens its borders on 23 September 2022.

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) replaces an existing US$65 per day tax and will be the highest tourist levy in the world, according to news reports.

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Experts have said that the tax could prove prohibitive for those planning to visit the country on extensive trekking trips, which contribute to local remote communities, while potentially encouraging whistle-stop tours that are more environmentally damaging.

Jenny Southan, chief executive of travel trends platform Globetrender, has predicted that more countries will follow suit, charging ‘sustainability’ fees on arrival.