This kingdom is rich with history, yet our focus is firmly on the horizon. We recognize the imperative to safeguard and uphold our heritage for the future, while also pioneering new avenues that pave the way for generations to come. This is our transformative era—a time dedicated to ensuring that the aspirations of our youth find fulfillment and innovation thrives. Rooted in the wisdom of our ancestors, we now empower our descendants to soar to new heights.
As Bhutanese, we uphold our duty to one another and our environment with utmost sincerity. Since our reopening on September 23, 2022, we kindly request every visitor to Bhutan to actively contribute to the preservation and advancement of our kingdom.
The Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) serves as a vital mechanism for funding transformative initiatives that preserve our cultural heritage, safeguard our environment, enhance infrastructure, and bolster our resilience. Crucially, it facilitates the establishment of training, mentorship, and educational programs aimed at creating enduring opportunities for our youth. Your contribution not only represents a crucial investment but also signifies a belief in our aspirations and our capability to realize them.
We envision the SDF not merely as an additional cost but as a means to enrich the experience of visitors to Bhutan. It embodies a ‘pay it forward’ principle, ensuring that future guests will enjoy an experience that is as good as, if not better than, what you experience today. This approach aims to create lasting value and sustainability, making your support integral to the ongoing prosperity and enhancement of Bhutan’s tourism offerings.
At the heart of our identity and partnership with our visitors lie values of responsibility, transparency, dependability, and trust. As we contribute to nation-building, our commitment is to uphold accountability in all our interactions and provide clear insights into the use of the SDF.
WHAT IS THE SDF USED FOR?
We use the SDF responsibly.
According to Article 14 of our constitution, all taxes, fees, and levies, including the SDF, must be deposited into a Consolidated Account. By law, funds from this central account are designated for government recurrent expenditure, ensuring stability and reliability in government operations. Any remaining revenue from this account is directed towards various developmental activities such as constructing schools, offering free healthcare, empowering youth with skills, preserving forests and wildlife, ensuring access to clean drinking water, restoring historical Dzongs, and other essential initiatives.
In summary, resources from this unified general account, which encompass contributions to the Social Development Fund (SDF), support:
- Ensuring continuous government operations and services for the Bhutanese populace through recurrent expenditures such as salaries and loan interest payments.
- Funding development initiatives prioritized by the government as detailed in Bhutan’s Twelfth Five Year Plan: 2018-2023, published by The Royal Government of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Commission.
