Abstract
This paper uses power relationship frameworks and regionalism concepts to understand two political aspects of Bhutan's low-volume, high-yield tourism policy. The number of tourists to Bhutan has been controlled not by an annual visa quota, but by a daily minimum tariff, a required guided tour, certain spatial restrictions, and the general perception of inconvenience associated with the process of getting a visa. The controlled tourism policy, however, is limited only to western tourists, who represent only a quarter of arrivals. Although Bhutan has been able to minimize the environmental and cultural impacts of western tourists through its low-volume, high-yield tourism policy, this is more related to power and regional politics than simply a quest for sustainable tourism.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 969-988 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Annals of Tourism Research |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 2010 |
Keywords
- Bhutan
- Controlled tourism
- Power
- Regionalism
- Supranationalism
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Development
- Tourism, Leisure and Hospitality Management