Marking a significant step in shaping the future of the tourism industry, the Department of Tourism launched the Bhutan Integrated Tourism Master Plan 2025-2034 on 21st February. The plan outlines a ten-year roadmap designed to position the country as a global leader in regenerative and high-value tourism. The event also celebrated the 45th birthday of His Majesty The King.
According to the Department of Tourism, the Bhutan Integrated Tourism Master Plan is built on four key pillars to make tourism more inclusive, balanced, and sustainable.
The pillars include fostering collaboration through Public-Private-People Partnerships, promoting regenerative tourism, addressing regional tourism imbalances, and positioning Bhutan as a year-round destination.
Key initiatives include sustainable infrastructure, digital transformation, and skills development to create jobs, especially for youth.
“The current master plan is 10 years and the previous was five years. The current master plan is more of bringing the partners together and strengthening the partnership and collaboration. But most importantly, prioritising the alignment of the master plan with the national 21st economic roadmap and the 13th Five Year Plan: 10X economy, having GDP of USD 5bn by 2034,” said Damcho Rinzin, Director, Department of Tourism.
The Director of the Department of Tourism said the master plan is a long-term strategy to make Bhutan’s tourism industry stronger by protecting the environment and supporting local communities.
The master plan was developed with support from the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility.
Kinley Bidha
Edited by Sonam Pem