Bhutan tourism stung by new fees on visitors from India

Measure aims to curb overcrowding, but threatens hotel sector

20200217 Bhutan heritage _punakha dzong 1.jpg

Pungthang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang in the western district of Punakha, 75 km from Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, is popular with regional tourists. (Photo by Phuntsho Wangdi)

PHUNTSHO WANGDI and NIDUP GYELTSHEN, Contributing writers

February 18, 2020 16:57 JST

Updated on February 20, 2020 08:44 JST

THIMPHU -- The tiny kingdom of Bhutan, wedged between India and China, will halt free entry of regional tourists in order to standardize tourism policy, provide better services, and keep Bhutan as an exclusive high-end destination.