August 20, 2025
THIMPHU – Paro-The country is moving beyond sustainable tourism toward a regenerative model—an approach first introduced by the monarchs through the “high value, low volume” policy.
Unlike sustainability, which focuses on minimising damage, regeneration seeks to restore landscapes, benefit local communities, and align tourism with the country’s Gross National Happiness values.
The three-day Regenerative Bhutan Forum (RBF) opened yesterday at Dungkar Dzong in Paro, drawing more than 200 participants, including policymakers, global tourism experts, researchers, business leaders, and community representatives from Bhutan, South Asia, and beyond.
Delegates from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and international experts from Japan, the UK, Germany, the Netherlands, and Colombia are sharing experiences and best practices.
The forum is supported by the SUSTOUR Project, implemented by the Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) with its partners.
The Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Employment (MoICE), Tashi Wangmo, attended as chief guest.
Anna Pollock, a recognised leader in regenerative tourism, delivered the keynote address.
“It is a significant step toward the future, and Bhutan has much to share with the world. The real challenge lies in recognising the value you have created. It is a sense of responsibility that rests on each individual, reminding us that every person truly matters,” she said.
The forum focuses on four areas. The first is measuring carbon footprints in tourism using updated greenhouse gas tools and promoting low-carbon travel itineraries. The second is the launch of the Bhutan Green Hotel Standard, endorsed by the Bhutan Standards Bureau, to guide hotels and tour operators in adopting greener practices. The third highlights greener supply chains, connecting farmers, artisans, and local producers with tourism operators to ensure community benefits. The fourth looks at integrating sustainability into marketing, linking Bhutan’s “High Value, Low Volume, Positive Impact” policy with the “Bhutan Believe” brand.
The event coincides with the launch of Bhutan’s Integrated Tourism Master Plan (2025) and the conclusion of the SUSTOUR Bhutan Project (2022–2025), both of which aim to strengthen regenerative principles in Bhutan’s tourism sector.
According to Damcho Rinzin, Director of the Department of Tourism, the shift is both urgent and necessary.
“The Regenerative Bhutan Forum is important and necessary because sustainable tourism is good, but it is not enough. We cannot stop at conserving—we must restore, renew, and regenerate,” he said.
He said that the world urgently needs more regenerative champions, more regenerative policies, and above all, more regenerative practices. “This was the vision gifted to us by our monarch through ‘High Value, Low Volume tourism.’ The path for tourism since Bhutan first opened to tourism in 1974 was regenerative tourism. That vision of 1974 is the same vision that guides us today,” he said.
He added that while increasing tourist arrivals is an immediate priority, the long-term goal must remain regenerative tourism.
Bhutan’s environmental record underlines this vision. The country is the world’s first carbon-negative nation, the first to endorse green hotel standards, and home to the highest unclimbed mountain. More than 70 percent of the country remains under forest cover, as required by the Constitution, and over 52 percent of its land is designated as protected areas, linked through biological corridors for wildlife.
Tourism continues to be the second-largest source of income for Bhutan. The sector generated Nu 2.3 billion in revenue in 2023–2024. Between January and July this year, Bhutan received 105,526 tourists, an increase of 34.8 percent compared with 78,235 in the same period of 2024. The top10 source markets were India, China, the United States, Bangladesh, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Spain, and Australia.
Today’s programme will feature workshops on carbon footprint measurement, national green standards, greener supply chains, and regenerative branding.