Bhutan first began to let tourists into the country in 1974, the point of this was to increase their countries income by showing and promoting their beautiful country to the rest of the world. Bhutan takes pride in having a "Low Volume, High Value" tourism, Bhutan is a perfect example of sustainable Eco-Tourism. There are many effects that come with the tourism in Bhutan, these are both positive and negative. Firstly, while tourists visit Bhutan they are required to pay tariff every day, as a result of this it has only attracted tourists who are comfortable with this price, and has increased protection of natural resources. Bhutan also has attracted tourists by their unique traditions and therefore more effort is made to preserve them. However tourism in Bhutan also brings negative effects with it as well such as loss of cultural authenticity of the country and tourists influencing modernisation and modern day technology into this traditional country. Also the is a scarce amount of natural resources left in the country and tourists have been using them in a non-sustainable.
As a result of Bhutan's extensive controlled tourism it has increased protection of the the Natural Resources in the country this is an economic effect on the country as well as contributing to beneficial environment protection projects. There is no limit of tourists coming into the country although visitors have to pay a minimum tariff of $200 U.S dollars per day, which may well increase to $250 in years to come. This is to reduce the amount of lower-class tourists into the country are they want to keep the number under control. Although you have to pay $200 U.S dollars every day this includes, accommodation, food, transport and an official tour guide. 32.5% ($65) of the the daily tariff goes towards Bhutan's free education fees, free health care and to reduce the amount of people living under the poverty line in the country. The rest of the money is used to go towards protection projects of Natural Resources, also to provide services for tourists and for local tour operators. In 1992 the revenue made from tourists contributed as much as $3.3 million U.S and made up 15-20% of the total of Bhutan's exported goods and services. This is an indirect effect that certainly benefits the locals as it controls the number of tourists that enter the country as the government consider the fact that tourism is a global phenomenon and could potentially take over this pristine, untouched kingdom.
Tourism in Bhutan has led to crucial preservation of the countries cultural and traditional identity, due to the increasing globalisation Bhutanese inhabitants are anxious that their culture will eventually fade away. This is a positive social effect on the country due to tourism. Their culture is represented through Monasteries, Dzongs, Traditional festivals, Archery and the everyday Bhutanese way of life. "This is the identity you see; our clothes, language, architecture. You look around and feel like you are in a different world. This is not an accident." - Dasho Kinley Dorji, Bhutanese working for the Ministry of Information and Communication, stating the importance of their culture. Tourists are attracted to Bhutan's unique architecture and their traditional way of life that is why. The Bhutan Foundation along with the Government is funding projects that are restoring significant cultural sites, such as the Shingkhar Temple and the Tamshing Monastery. The government is also supporting traditional arts, crafts and funded projects for the restoration of historic dzongs and monasteries that have been damaged due to natural disasters such as earthquakes. Additional help is from the National society but also the global community to continue these actions so Bhutan's cultural identity is not lost.
However tourism in Bhutan has resulted in loss of authenticity and culture, due to tourists influencing the Bhutanese to new modern day technology. In recent years local Bhutanese have been more curious about the technology tourists bring into their country, and has resulted in them changing their way of life because of it. The influence of modernisation has led to subtle vanishing of Bhutan's rich culture, the future generation are going to be literate with laptops and the internet, this is destroying the fact that the Bhutanese are trying to hold onto the past and live by their traditions. For centuries they have been living on the outside and was isolated to the rest of the world nowadays they have cellphone coverage in all regions, even the remote villages and most people are familiar with computers. The countries national sport, archery has changed as the traditional equipment have been replaced by hi-tech compound bows which are supposedly more superior. With increasing amounts of tourists more and more technology is being introduced therefore they are gradually letting go to previous traditions.
Bhutan has also been affected by tourism with the scare natural resources the country has to offer are being misused, this has resulted in a negative environmental effect of tourism. Depletion of natural resources has occurred in the recent years, as the number of tourists has increased the amount of consumption has heavily increased for Bhutan's natural resources. Hotels and resorts have that are located in some of the more popular cities like Paro or Thimpu have been recorded to show over use of water. This has been effecting the locals who live in these major cities as they have been experiencing water shortages as the tourists have been over using this scarce resource. This is a direct issue as people living in Paro or Thimpu are being effected right away, which is inequitable as the local residents are very sustainable with their water usage.
As a result of Bhutan's extensive controlled tourism it has increased protection of the the Natural Resources in the country this is an economic effect on the country as well as contributing to beneficial environment protection projects. There is no limit of tourists coming into the country although visitors have to pay a minimum tariff of $200 U.S dollars per day, which may well increase to $250 in years to come. This is to reduce the amount of lower-class tourists into the country are they want to keep the number under control. Although you have to pay $200 U.S dollars every day this includes, accommodation, food, transport and an official tour guide. 32.5% ($65) of the the daily tariff goes towards Bhutan's free education fees, free health care and to reduce the amount of people living under the poverty line in the country. The rest of the money is used to go towards protection projects of Natural Resources, also to provide services for tourists and for local tour operators. In 1992 the revenue made from tourists contributed as much as $3.3 million U.S and made up 15-20% of the total of Bhutan's exported goods and services. This is an indirect effect that certainly benefits the locals as it controls the number of tourists that enter the country as the government consider the fact that tourism is a global phenomenon and could potentially take over this pristine, untouched kingdom.
Tourism in Bhutan has led to crucial preservation of the countries cultural and traditional identity, due to the increasing globalisation Bhutanese inhabitants are anxious that their culture will eventually fade away. This is a positive social effect on the country due to tourism. Their culture is represented through Monasteries, Dzongs, Traditional festivals, Archery and the everyday Bhutanese way of life. "This is the identity you see; our clothes, language, architecture. You look around and feel like you are in a different world. This is not an accident." - Dasho Kinley Dorji, Bhutanese working for the Ministry of Information and Communication, stating the importance of their culture. Tourists are attracted to Bhutan's unique architecture and their traditional way of life that is why. The Bhutan Foundation along with the Government is funding projects that are restoring significant cultural sites, such as the Shingkhar Temple and the Tamshing Monastery. The government is also supporting traditional arts, crafts and funded projects for the restoration of historic dzongs and monasteries that have been damaged due to natural disasters such as earthquakes. Additional help is from the National society but also the global community to continue these actions so Bhutan's cultural identity is not lost.
However tourism in Bhutan has resulted in loss of authenticity and culture, due to tourists influencing the Bhutanese to new modern day technology. In recent years local Bhutanese have been more curious about the technology tourists bring into their country, and has resulted in them changing their way of life because of it. The influence of modernisation has led to subtle vanishing of Bhutan's rich culture, the future generation are going to be literate with laptops and the internet, this is destroying the fact that the Bhutanese are trying to hold onto the past and live by their traditions. For centuries they have been living on the outside and was isolated to the rest of the world nowadays they have cellphone coverage in all regions, even the remote villages and most people are familiar with computers. The countries national sport, archery has changed as the traditional equipment have been replaced by hi-tech compound bows which are supposedly more superior. With increasing amounts of tourists more and more technology is being introduced therefore they are gradually letting go to previous traditions.
Bhutan has also been affected by tourism with the scare natural resources the country has to offer are being misused, this has resulted in a negative environmental effect of tourism. Depletion of natural resources has occurred in the recent years, as the number of tourists has increased the amount of consumption has heavily increased for Bhutan's natural resources. Hotels and resorts have that are located in some of the more popular cities like Paro or Thimpu have been recorded to show over use of water. This has been effecting the locals who live in these major cities as they have been experiencing water shortages as the tourists have been over using this scarce resource. This is a direct issue as people living in Paro or Thimpu are being effected right away, which is inequitable as the local residents are very sustainable with their water usage.