Bhutan has taken a major step in promoting sustainable tourism. The country has launched the Bhutan Green Hotel Standard (BGHS), setting a national benchmark for environmentally friendly hotels. The standard was developed jointly by the Department of Tourism, Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators, and Bhutan Standards Bureau, along with other relevant stakeholders. It was launched at the Dungkar Dzong in Paro on Monday.
The new framework aligns with internationally recognised benchmarks such as the ASEAN Green Hotel Standard and the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria.
Endorsed by the Bhutan Standards Bureau in March last year, the BGHS defines nine core parameters and 67 indicators. Certification requires meeting 48 mandatory indicators, while 19 indicators are recommended.
Following pilot assessments in Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, five hotels have been certified under the new standard. These districts were identified as tourism landscapes for the pilot phase by SUSTOUR, an EU-funded project promoting sustainable tourism in Bhutan.
The programme is voluntary, and officials say they are adopting a phased, supportive approach to encourage participation.
“They have a branding advantage, they can focus on people who care, they can target conscious travellers, they can cater to environmentally friendly travellers, they can cater to responsible travellers, and there’s quite a huge opportunity for them to differentiate,” said Damcho Rinzin, Director, Department of Tourism.
“This is not a regulatory requirement, but it also helps the hoteliers to increase or improve their efficiency in terms of operation, in terms of expenditure and in terms of being environmentally friendly,” said Sonam Dorji, Executive Director, ABTO.
Each BGHS certificate is valid for three years, after which hotels must undergo reassessment to maintain their status. Pilot findings showed that three-star and above hotels usually clear about 20 indicators upfront, as Bhutan’s star classification already enforces good practices. However, sewage and wastewater treatment, especially the reuse of treated water, remains the most common gap, since many hotels lack the necessary infrastructure. Assessments were also hampered by incomplete or missing paperwork from hoteliers.
“The main objective of the standards is evidence-based. There were hotels which were practising green initiatives, responsible initiatives, and sustainable initiatives; however, there was no evidence to prove that they were actually practising them,” said Sonam Dorji, Executive Director, ABTO.
The next phase includes nationwide sensitisation for hoteliers, training of assessors for consistent evaluations, and revisiting criteria based on pilot feedback. Officials say hotels across Bhutan can now apply for assessment under the BGHS.
Karma Samten Wangda, Paro
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
