Bhutan has a fascinating culture that draws visitors to it from Bhutan
customs, and languages to cuisines, among many others. Surrounded by
mountains and flanked by India and China, some call Bhutan the
“Switzerland of Asia” because of its size, shape, and location in the
mountains.
- The world’s happiest Country
Bhutan has continually been ranked as the happiest country in Asia, and one
of the happiest countries in the world. It is best known for its philosophy of
promoting Gross National Happiness (GNH) over Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) which suggests happiness is the ultimate aim of development. The
policies and programs, guided by the concept of GNH, Bhutan has
considerably improved its economic, environmental, social, and governance
situation in the past decades.
- Leading a green destination
Bhutan is committed to having a positive impact on the environment and
community and takes the pride in providing a sustainable experience with an
unwavering focus on promoting responsible tourism thus leading green
destination in the world. The country is recognized as a leading green and
sustainable destination in the world. Green Destinations in 2018 offered
Bhutan the Earth Award and Gold Award in 2019 of the 100 top sustainable
destinations in the world for its sustainable and green initiatives.
Environmental protection is enshrined in the constitution, which states that a
minimum of 60 percent of the total land should be maintained under forest
cover for all time and about 72 percent of the total land area is under forest
cover, relatively well-preserved.
- The only carbon-negative economy in the world
Bhutan has stepped onto the international stage as the only carbon-negative
economy in the world and pledged to remain carbon neutral for all time. The
country hopes to eventually replace all vehicles that rely on fossil fuels with
those that run on electricity. It also plans to reach zero net greenhouse gas
emissions and produce zero waste by 2030 putting a comprehensive plan of
action into place. Besides, the government provides rural farmers with free
electricity to lessen their dependence on wood stoves for cooking.
- The balance between spirituality and materialism
Bhutan is the last standing Buddhist Kingdom in the World. The predominant
religion in Bhutan is Mahayana Buddhism, followed by Hinduism. Bhutanese
believe that material progress has to be supported by spiritual development
for a society to be healthy. They attend a lot of religious festivals and
engage in spiritual activities. Bhutanese generally feel content with what
they have and the majority of them do not have a materialistic outlook on
life.
- Cultural marvels
Bhutan has preserved much of the culture since the 16th century while some
even dated back to the 7th century. Sacred Buddhist values influence
Bhutanese culture and people conduct themselves based on Buddhist beliefs.
Bhutan is still trying to preserve and promote its culture amidst
modernization. The government also imposes a code of conduct – Driglam
Namzha – that specifies the dress code and daily conduct of Bhutanese
under strict observation.
- Close-knit community
Bhutan is predominantly a close-knit society. The quality of relationships
among the Bhutanese is caring and compassion, tolerance, and
understanding. People come together to help each other, and take an
interest in each other. There are several community-based organizations in
every village to contribute both financial and labor support to the
development and progress of the villages.
- Colorful Festivals
Bhutan offers a series of religious festivals and is a very popular destination
for international tourists. People dress up in fine colorful Bhutanese
traditional attires to be a part of the festivities. Various unique mask dances
and local cultural programs display to the public. It can be stated that the
festival and cultural activities add value to the identity of the community
that attracts tourists because of its rich culture filled with sacred places,
historical significance, and natural beauty.
- Rich in biodiversity
Bhutan has been identified as a global biodiversity hotspot offering many
natural services. It is also characterized by strong species diversity and
density. In particular, with 783 bird species as of 2022, Bhutan is home to
about 7 percent of total global bird species. The wide altitudinal range
produces suitable climactic conditions that help support Bhutan’s enviable
biodiversity. In addition, the country is also enormously rich in crop
diversity.
- Hiking and trekking destination
Hiking and trekking in Bhutan offer both beauty and variety along quiet
mountain paths, beautiful rural villages in the mountains, and crystal-clear
lakes full of trout. It is home to some of the most challenging high-altitude
treks which remain unspoiled and ripe for exploration in the world. The CNN
travel in July 2022 listed Tergo-La Trek, in the Haa Valley, one of the
country’s lesser-known routes in 23 of the best hiking trails in the world.
- Destination for exclusive tourism
Bhutan has followed the policy to promote tourism sustainably since its
opening in 1974 guided by the principles of ‘High Value, Low Volume’. The
policy ensures meeting the needs of the tourists and destinations while
promoting Bhutan as a destination for exclusive tourism with the major
change proposed in the Tourism Levy Bill of Bhutan 2022.
