Yearbook 2010
Bhutan. On April 28-29, Bhutan hosted for the first time
a summit between the South Asian countries in the South
Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Bhutan
has been a member since SAARC was formed in 1985, but had
previously refused to hold the summit because of the
country's lack of infrastructure. The fact that the meeting
was now held in Bhutan's capital Thimphu showed that the
previously isolated country has been given an active role in
regional cooperation. The country's prime minister Jigme
Thinley said that the hostilities would strengthen the image
of Bhutan as a sovereign, independent, responsible and equal
member state of SAARC. Other members of the cooperation body
are India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives
and Afghanistan, which were elected in 2007.
According to
COUNTRYAAH, Bhutan, which has always restricted tourism to the
country, plans to increase the number of tourists from the
current around 30,000 to 100,000 in 2012. This was announced
by Prime Minister Thinley in September. Bhutan began to
attract tourists in 1975, limiting the number of visitors to
preserve the country's traditions and special features and
to prevent environmental degradation. Tourists are not
allowed to travel or roam freely. Rock climbing has been
banned because the mountains are considered sacred. Despite
tripling the number of visitors, the guidelines should be
the same as before, Thinley assured. Tourists may only come
in smaller groups and should have minimal impact on the
environment and culture. All visitors must pay a tourist fee
of US $ 200-250 per day.
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