Policy / Regulations

As you may be well aware that due to limited number of TCB classified hotels in the eastern Bhutan, tour operators are having difficulty to promote eastern Bhutan and reap SDF waiver benefit. In this regard, ABTO requested TCB to consider some of the unclassified hotels, which have basic facilities and were used by tour operators in […]

This is to kindly inform that the gups of Thimphu Dzongkhag had raised trekking related following concerns during the recent Thimphu Dzongkhag Tshogdu held on 21st March 2017. 1. Ensuring trekking group to camp at designated campsites 2. Proposal seeking tourists to use porter and any of the respective village while traveling through that village. […]

This is to kindly inform that most of the tourism infrastructure/facilities developed along the roadsides and trekking routes by TCB are being managed by local communities. Since tour operators being the main users of such facilities, TCB has solicited feedback (condition, services, maintenance etc.) from tour operators on a regular basis and ensured that such […]

As you may be aware that the government has announced SDF (Sustainable Development Fee) waiver on 15th February 2018 for tourists visiting the six eastern districts (Mongar, Samdrup Jongkhar, Lhuntse, Tashi Yangtse, Tashigang and Pemagatshel) effective from 16th November 2017 for a period of 3 years. In this regard, ABTO and TCB had a bilateral […]

As you may be well aware that Gelephu has only one tourists standard hotel and therefore, it is impossible to get rooms during peak season months. As a result, tour operators have no option but to keep their guests in other hotels, which is against tourism rule and there were instances where TCB penalized some […]

Please find the rules on Fiscal Incentive Act of Bhutan 2017 shared by the government for your kind reference.

Kindly find Announcement by Bhutan Civil Avaition Authority (BCAA) with regard to flying of unauthorized drones in the country.

Upon request made by ABTO on identification of alternative campsites along the Jumolhari Trek route (so that tour operators are not penalised for not reaching the designated campsites), the Department of Forests and Park Services,  MoAF has extended their support towards facilitating use of alternate campsites namely  Singarabten, Thodozam, Tsheyam Marp and Soei Makha) as an interim measure […]

This is to kindly inform that Gasa Dzongkhag has initiated Porter Services Group for Lunana Gewog for meaningful engagement and supporting the communities towards effective service delivery for tourism. Please find draft Bylaws and Business plan on Porter Services Group of Lunana for your comments and suggestions.  Kindly provide your views/comments, if any, at the […]

This is to kindly inform that the Board of Directors of ABTO has met with the Director of the Department of Air Transport, Paro on 14th March 2017. As such the Association would like to update as follows: – Departure Terminal There will be no charges at the drop zone at Departure terminal. For Buses upto 5 minutes […]