Bhutan’s Paro Tshechu Festival

When the 4th king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, declared in the 70’s that Gross National Happiness (GNH) was more important than Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and decided to make the wellbeing of his people the top priority of national policy, he might not have foreseen that this unique vision of a prosperous and healthy society would attract a growing number of curious visitors to his relatively unknown country in the Eastern Himalayas, eager to experience “world’s last Shangri-la," as Bhutan often has been dubbed. About 5,000 foreigners visited the country in 1990; today between 30,000 and 40,000 tourists enter Bhutan yearly. All this interest remains in spite of hefty daily visitor fees of $250 a day, which includes hotels, meals, transport, and guides.

About 5,000 foreigners visited the country in 1990; today between 30,000 and 40,000 tourists enter Bhutan yearly. All this interest remains in spite of hefty daily visitor fees of $250 a day, which includes hotels, meals, transport, and guides.