Tourism in Bhutan

Tourism in Bhutan began in 1974 when the Bhutanese government in an effort to raise revenue and to promote the country's unique culture and traditions to the outside world, opened up their isolated country to foreigners. In 1974 287 tourists visited Bhutan. Since then the number of tourists visiting Bhutan has increased to 2,850 in 1992 and then rising dramatically to 7158 in in 1999. cite web|author=Dorji, Tandi|url=http://www.digitalhimalaya.com/collections/journals/jbs/pdf/JBS_03_01_03.pdf|title=Sustainability of Tourism in Bhutan|publisher=Digital Himilaya|accessdate=August 10|accessyear=2008] By the late 1980's tourism contributed over US$2 million in revenue.

Despite being open to foreigners, the government is acutely aware of the environmental impact tourists can have on Bhutan's unique and virtually unspoiled landscape and culture. There they restricted the level of tourist activity from the start preferring higher quality tourism and unti 1991 the Bhutan Tourism Corporation (BTC), a quasi-autonomous and self-financing body, implemented thegovernment's tourism policy. The Bhutanese government however privatised the Corporation in October 1991 which facilitated private sector investment and activity, As a result, today over 75 licensed tourist companies operate in the country.

The most important centres for tourism are in Bhutan's capital Thimphu and in the west of the country in proximity to India at Paro. At Paro, Taktshang, a cliff side monastery overlooking the Paro Valley is one of the country's attractions. Druk Air is currently the only airline operating flights in Bhutan. [cite news
last = Ionides
first = Nicholas
title = Bhutan's Druk Air looks to expand
publisher = Airline Business
date = 9 April 2008
url = http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/09/222856/bhutans-druk-air-looks-to-expand.html
accessdate = 2008-08-10 ]

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