SDF

The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) is the per-tourist daily fee charged by Bhutan to international visitors (Indian and other regional visitors pay reduced rates). Restructured downward from USD 200/day to USD 100/day in September 2023 in response to weak post-COVID tourism recovery.

The SDF’s structural design — high per-tourist take in exchange for low overall volume — sits at the centre of the country’s tourism strategy and the questions raised in Paradox #12 and Paradox #32.

See also: Paradox #12, Paradox #32.