India not to impose reciprocal fee on Bhutan tourists: MEA

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 6

India will not adopt retaliatory provisions on Bhutan after it imposed a daily charge of about Rs 1,200 per visitor from July 1.

“Some ties are beyond reciprocity,” said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar on being asked about a pending Bill in Bhutan’s Parliament that seeks to end free entry to tourists from the region, including Bangladesh and Maldives.

Kumar reasoned that Bhutan wanted to impose this cess, which it already levies from tourists from elsewhere in the world, to upgrade its tourist facilities in a sustainable manner. Till not long back, Indian diplomats had cited the free pass by Bhutan to Indians as proof of SAARC spirit that was observed by all countries barring Pakistan.

The MEA spokesperson said Bhutan had also said no Indian tourist would be inconvenienced by the new provision. Bhutan enjoys excellent ties with India, but is sensitive to the risk of unchecked tourism on its environment. Its Parliament had earlier vetoed a BBIN (Bhutan-Bangladesh-India-Nepal) motor vehicle agreement that would have allowed member states to ply their vehicles in each other’s territory.