1) POLICY GUIDELINES: The Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes that tourism is a worldwide phenomenon and an important means of achieving socio-economic development particularly for developing countries like Bhutan. It also recognizes that tourism, in affording the opportunity to travel, can help in promoting understanding among peoples and building closer ties of friendship based on appreciation and respect for different cultures and lifestyles. There are, however, problems associated with tourism, which if not controlled, can have devastating and irreversible impact on the local environment, culture and identity of the people. Realizing these problems and the fact that the resources on which tourism is based are limited, the Royal Government of Bhutan recognizes the need to develop the Bhutanese tourism industry based on the principle of sustainability, which means it must be environmentally and ecologically friendly, socially and culturally acceptable and economically viable. Towards achieving this objective, the Royal Government, since inception of tourism in the years 1974, has adopted a very cautious approach  to growth and development of the tourism industry in Bhutan. In order to minimize the problems, the number of tourists has been maintained at a manageable level and this control on number is exercised through a policy of government regulated tourist tariff and a set of administrative requirements explained in the following Sections.

2) VISITING BHUTAN: Visitors must obtain "Visa Clearance" form the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thimphu, prior to departing for Bhutan. Visa Clearance is also required by visitors at the tome of obtaining Druk Air ticket from their local agents.

Actual visa is stamped on the visitor’s passports of arrival at the port of entry on payment of US$ 20 for a 15 days visa. Extension of visa, for a period not exceeding 6 months, can be obtained in Thimphu on payment of Nu.510.

Visitor can enter Bhutan by road through Indian territories at the border town of Phuntsholing in the south of the country or by air at Paro. Druk Air operates a fleet of two BAe 146 jet airplanes with 71(10 business class and 61 economy class) seats each. There are two flights a week each from Bangkok, New Delhi and Kathmandu and one flight a week each from Calcutta and Dhaka.

Tours to Bhutan can be arranged through travel agents abroad, or by directly contacting on of the 33 local tour operators on Bhutan who are responsible for making all local arrangements (visa, Gruk- Air reservation, tour programs, etc.) for visitors.

3) VISA FORMALITIES:  All applications for tourist visas shall be submitted by tour operators in the prescribed visa Application form in triplicate to TAB well in advance to allow required time of one week for processing with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As far as possible, 3 copies of original passport photographs must be furnished with the visa applications. However, if this is not possible, visitors on arrival to the visa officer at the entry point must present the photographs.

All applications for tourist visas and extensions shall compulsorily be channelized through the TAB and no tour operator may entertain any visitor whose visa has been processed through other channels.

4) BAGGAGE RULES: Baggage rules applicable to visitors, as stipulated by Revenue and Customs Authorities of the Royal Government.

5) RESTRICTED AREAS: For security reasons and in view of the fact that many temples and monasteries in Bhutan are living institutions, visitors are not permitted to visit/ enter certain places and religious establishments.