Bhutan, in an effort to double foreign tourist arrivals from India in the next one year, has partnered travel portal MakeMyTrip to roll out summer packages, starting mid-May. Tourism is the second largest revenue generator for Bhutan. It got nearly 41,000 tourists last year, of which about 12,000 were from India and the region around.
MakeMyTrip will operate chartered flights from Delhi and Mumbai, starting May, offering week-long holiday packages for Rs 33,000 per person twice a week.
“We expect at least 2,500 people to visit Bhutan through MakeMyTrip during the two months. The overwhelming success of charter flights to Ladakh, Maldives and the Andamans provided the impetus for creating a similar thing for Bhutan,” said Marketing Officer Mohit Gupta. The company has signed deals with Druk Air, the official carrier of Bhutan, and six hotels there.
Bhutan is continuing to position itself as a high-end tourist market and aims to reach the 100,000-foreign tourist count by 2012. It has taken several initiatives, including allowing 100 per cent foreign direct investment in the hotel and airline sector, credit card facilities, online visa applications, abolition of special permits and the opening of previously restricted places. “Our environment is fragile and culture is sensitive, which is why we cannot afford mass tourism,” said Chimmy Pem, joint director, Tourism Council of Bhutan.
