The tiny Kingdom of Bhutan, nestled in the eastern Himalayas, gives you a sense of what a carbon-neutral tourism destination is. Not only that, it’s the only carbon-negative country in worldwide.
Despite its attraction, Bhutan hasn’t seen swarms of tourists yet. This is because the government of Bhutan takes extra precautions to prevent an uncontrollable influx of tourists from entering the country.
Bhutan needs to be on your travel wish list if you’re planning a soulful getaway to a carbon-neutral tourism destination that gets you closer to nature.
What’s more? Experienced travel operators like Norbu Bhutan can help you personalize your trip to Bhutan for a truly unique travel experience.
Here’s everything you need to know about this carbon-neutral tourism destination and how to become a sustainable traveler.
What Does It Mean To Be A Carbon-Neutral Tourism Destination?
The greenhouse gas released by human activities, such as farming, forestry, and the combustion of fossil fuels, is carbon dioxide. One of the factors contributing to climate change is the rise in heat trapped in the atmosphere caused by high amounts of carbon dioxide.
Most countries produce more carbon dioxide than the world’s seas and plant life can absorb. These make significant contributions to the effects of climate change.
Bhutan, however, stands apart from the others. The current percentage of trees in the country exceeds 70%.
Bhutan has extensive forest coverage, making it a carbon sink—a country that absorbs more carbon dioxide than it releases. That’s why Bhutan is known as a carbon-negative nation or a carbon-neutral tourism destination.
How Did Bhutan Become A Carbon-Neutral Tourism Destination?
Let’s get you in on a little fact about Bhutan’s carbon negativity and how it became a carbon-neutral tourism destination: Bhutan barely produces about two million tonnes of CO2 per year, absorbing roughly seven million tonnes.
Bhutan also distributes most of the clean hydropower it produces from its rivers to its neighboring countries. This offsets the nation’s annual carbon emissions contribution by millions of tonnes.
A More Holistic Approach To Development
Bhutan adopts the Gross National Happiness policy, a key development indicator with values, in contrast to most nations, which evaluate development using Gross Domestic Product. This vision aspires to increase peoples’ happiness and well-being.
Bhutan has spent countless hours building a nation that carefully balances economic progress with social advancement, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation.
The government and the citizens put effort into conserving natural resources and the environment, which is one of the reasons why Bhutan is a carbon-neutral tourism destination.
Why Is Carbon Neutral Country Ideal For Tourists?
The most exclusive and carbon-neutral tourism destination in the world is considered to be Bhutan. Bhutan is known for its authenticity, seclusion, and well-protected natural and cultural heritage.
Bhutan did not open its doors to visitors until 1974, proudly maintaining this place as sacred. This is a unique travel experience made even more notable by its genuine, environmentally friendly, and carbon-negative approach to tourism.
Today, the tourist industry is thriving with much room for expansion.
To give Bhutan the appearance of exclusivity and high yield, the Royal Government of Bhutan steadfastly adheres to a tourism policy of “High Value, Low Volume” tourism to uphold its reputation as a carbon-neutral tourism destination.
The verdant Himalayan country of Bhutan, an excellent travel destination shrouded with magic and mystery, is teeming with natural beauty, vibrant culture, spiritual and historical attractions, and daring adventure.
Bhutan, a mysterious and myth-covered country, is rife with physical reminders of its unique culture, from the stunning mountain forts and temples to the carvings and paintings of Buddhist deities adorn jagged cliff faces.
Prayer wheels slowly whirl with the flow of crystal-clear mountain streams while frayed prayer flags flutter in breathtaking mountain passes.
The best treat from a carbon-neutral tourism destination is fresh air and the serene surroundings that you will never find in other places.
What Does Bhutan Hold For Tourists?
Bhutan has maintained its position as a carbon-neutral tourism destination and successfully avoided the overcrowded, tourist-infested doom that has already befallen many countries worldwide – thanks to its foresightful policy of “high-value low volume tourism.”
The troubling and transformative times brought on by human conflict and climate change, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, force nations worldwide to reassess and adjust their travel regulations.
With the new high-value, low-volume tourist policy, Bhutan hopes to put into practice a practical approach that will assure sustainable development and embrace it as a carbon-neutral tourism destination.
Bhutan, one of the very few carbon-neutral tourism destinations, avoids the inconvenience of hordes of visitors by concentrating on more selective tourists rather than mainstream tourism.
Based on its tourism policy of high value, low volume tourism, and Gross National Happiness, the overarching objective is to market Bhutan as a luxury vacation destination (GNH).
On June 27, 2022, the tourism industry passed a new levy, increasing Bhutan’s sustainable development fee for foreign visitors from USD 65 to USD 200.
We are here to clear up any of your confusion over the new high-value, low-volume tourist strategy once and for all. If you’re an Indian tourist traveling to Bhutan, here is some Information for Indian Travelers to make your trip to Bhutan successful.
How To Be A Carbon Negative Tourist in Bhutan?
Although the Covid-19 pandemic stalled tourism in its tracks, this reset allows us to resurrect the travel sector more environmentally friendly manner.
Sustainable tourism is the idea that travelers should leave as little of an environmental footprint as possible so that, over time, both tourists and locals can benefit from tourism and enjoy the great locations the world has to offer.
Here are four tips for traveling more responsibly in the future:
- Reduce Your Impact On The Environment
A carbon-neutral tourism destination demands nothing more than your conscious mind to help it maintain its serene surroundings!
Using a biodegradable or reusable shopping bag instead of plastic bags, recycling wherever feasible, turning the lights off, and disconnecting chargers when not in use are just a few suggestions for making your travels ecologically friendly.
- Seek To Understand Cultural Differences
Sustainable traveling isn’t just about protecting the environment; it’s also important to be aware of how our activities affect the host country’s culture.
People travel to experience the local culture, try the strange-sounding food on the menu, pick up a few words of the local tongue, and have dinner simultaneously with the locals.
Respecting the culture also improves how others perceive you. Before you travel, it’s a good idea to find out what is appropriate.
- Find An Sustainable Tour Operator
You can lessen the harm your trip would otherwise cause by selecting a tour operator who cares about preserving the environment while also providing you with a memorable trip to Bhutan. The simplest way to accomplish this is to choose a green tour operator.
Norbu Bhutan Travels is the best green tour operator in Bhutan if you wish to contribute to this carbon-neutral tourism destination.
They are also prevalent among tourists for their unmatched tailored tour packages that cover all the country’s most important and beautiful sites.
- Use Sustainable Transport
A simple activity like sustainable transport can contribute and make a difference to a carbon-neutral tourism destination. Flying may appear simple and alluring, but it is not beneficial for the environment.
Walking and cycling are advised when exploring cities. We also recommend using sustainable transport instead of driving, which consumes as much fuel.
Bottom Line
The Kingdom of Bhutan has fascinating undiscovered sights that tourists often miss. Thanks to carbon-neutral tourism, your journey to Bhutan will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Are you planning a trip to Bhutan’s carbon-neutral tourism destination? What you need to know about Important Travel Updates following Bhutan’s changes to its tourism regulations is provided here.
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