By Tshering Yangzom · Jun 10, 2024 · Bhutan Policy
Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee — USD 100 per person per night — is one of the highest tourism levies in the world. Travellers ask, often reasonably, what they are paying for.
Where it goes
The SDF funds free public healthcare, free education, infrastructure in remote valleys, and environmental conservation. There is no separate income tax on most Bhutanese citizens; tourism revenue underwrites a meaningful share of the social system.
What it means for you
You will not see crowds at sacred sites. You will not be hustled. The trails are clean. The forests are intact. The fee makes the country itself the experience.
