Bhutan 2026 H1 Tourism Update: Strong Growth, New Air Links and Hotel Openings
Bhutan welcomed 149,141 visitors in H1 2026, up 48.14 percent year on year, as Drukair expanded regional services and new hotels opened in Paro and Gangtey.
Bhutan welcomed 149,141 visitors during the first half of 2026, an increase of 48.14 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
The January to June total was the highest first-half result in the available 2023 to 2026 dataset. Growth was supported by a strong spring travel season, continued demand from India, expanded regional air services and new hotel openings in Paro and Gangtey.
Bhutan H1 Tourism Growth
Bhutan received 149,141 visitors between January and June 2026, compared with 100,678 during the corresponding months of 2025.
This represents an additional 48,463 arrivals and year-on-year growth of 48.14 percent.
| Month | H1 2025 | H1 2026 | Year-on-year change |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4,951 | 10,627 | +114.6% |
| February | 5,761 | 9,539 | +65.6% |
| March | 17,742 | 26,092 | +47.1% |
| April | 28,674 | 30,345 | +5.8% |
| May | 29,879 | 47,343 | +58.4% |
| June | 13,671 | 25,195 | +84.3% |
| H1 total | 100,678 | 149,141 | +48.14% |
Every month in the first half of 2026 recorded more visitors than the corresponding month in 2025.
May was the busiest month, with 47,343 arrivals, accounting for almost one-third of the H1 total. April followed with 30,345 arrivals, while March recorded 26,092.
The results show that demand strengthened across the entire six-month period rather than being concentrated in a single month. The sharp increases recorded in January, February and June also indicate stronger travel outside the main spring peak.
Source: https://bhutan.travel/travel-trade
India remains Bhutan's largest source market
India remained Bhutan's leading source market by a wide margin, contributing 107,775 visitors during H1 2026.
The United States was the second-largest market with 6,190 visitors, followed by China with 3,791.
| Rank | Source market | H1 2026 visitors |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | India | 107,775 |
| 2 | United States | 6,190 |
| 3 | China | 3,791 |
| 4 | Bangladesh | 2,490 |
| 5 | Singapore | 2,476 |
| 6 | Thailand | 2,157 |
| 7 | United Kingdom | 2,023 |
| 8 | Japan | 1,736 |
| 9 | Australia | 1,523 |
| 10 | Germany | 1,384 |
Together, these ten markets contributed 131,545 visitors, or approximately 88 percent of total arrivals.
India alone accounted for about 72 percent of all visitors. Its position reflects Bhutan's geographical proximity to India, established transport links and the availability of land-border access.
The remaining leading markets show that Bhutan continues to attract travellers from North America, Europe, East Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. The United States was the largest long-haul source market during the period.
Phuentsholing handles nearly six in ten arrivals
Phuentsholing was Bhutan's busiest entry point during H1 2026, receiving 87,440 visitors.
The southern border town accounted for approximately 58.6 percent of all arrivals, highlighting the importance of overland travel from India.
Paro received 53,750 visitors, representing about 36 percent of the national total. Paro International Airport remains Bhutan's principal international aviation gateway.
| Port of entry | H1 2026 arrivals |
|---|---|
| Phuentsholing | 87,440 |
| Paro | 53,750 |
| Samtse | 5,623 |
| Samdrup Jongkhar | 1,438 |
| Gelephu | 866 |
| Nganglam | 14 |
| Gelephu International Airport | 10 |
| Total | 149,141 |
Samtse received 5,623 visitors during the period. Smaller volumes entered through Samdrup Jongkhar, Gelephu, Nganglam and Gelephu International Airport.
The figures show that Bhutan's tourism access remains concentrated around two main gateways. Phuentsholing serves the large regional market arriving by road, while Paro handles most international air arrivals.
Sustainable Development Fee collections increased through 2025
Revenue collected through Bhutan's Sustainable Development Fee, commonly known as the SDF, increased over the three years to 2025.
| Year | SDF collections |
|---|---|
| 2023 | US$26 million |
| 2024 | US$29.35 million |
| 2025 | US$43.31 million |
Collections increased by approximately 13 percent between 2023 and 2024, followed by growth of about 48 percent in 2025.
These are annual figures and do not include an H1 2026 revenue total. They cover SDF collections only and exclude visitor expenditure on accommodation, restaurants, guides, transport, handicrafts and other tourism services. The figures should therefore not be interpreted as Bhutan's total tourism revenue.
Three hotels open during the first half of 2026
Bhutan's hospitality supply expanded during H1 2026, with new properties opening in Gangtey and Paro.
Taj Gangtey opens in the Phobjikha Valley
Taj Gangtey Resort & Spa opened in January 2026 in Gangtey, within the Phobjikha Valley of Wangdue Phodrang.
The property has 32 rooms and three suites, bringing the Taj brand back into Bhutan's hospitality market.
The opening adds internationally branded accommodation outside the main western tourism centres of Paro, Thimphu and Punakha.
Sources:
https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/hotels/taj-gangtey-bhutan
Terma Linca Paro opens in March
Terma Linca Paro opened in March 2026, adding another property to Paro's accommodation market.
Paro is Bhutan's main aviation gateway and the starting point for visits to several of the country's best-known cultural and religious sites, including Paro Dzong, Kyichu Lhakhang and Taktsang Monastery.
The hotel features 46 guestrooms, comprising 36 Deluxe Rooms, 2 Junior Suites and 8 Suites.
TUI Blue marks its entry into Bhutan
TUI Blue Paro Taktsang opened in May 2026, marking TUI Hotels & Resorts' entry into Bhutan.
Located in Paro, the property offers 34 junior suites and suites. Its opening adds another internationally branded hotel to one of Bhutan's most important tourism destinations.
JW Marriott planned for Thimphu in 2027
Marriott International lists the JW Marriott Hotel Bhutan Thimphu for opening in the fourth quarter of 2027.
The planned hotel will have 75 guestrooms and would introduce the JW Marriott brand to Bhutan.
As with all projects in development, the scheduled opening remains subject to construction progress and commercial planning.
Source:
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/marriott-brands/portfolio/openings.mi?#southasia
Pemako plans third Bhutan property in Paro
Pemako Hotels is developing a new property in Paro, with an opening targeted for 2029.
The project is being designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, the international architecture practice commonly known as BIG. It would become Pemako's third property in Bhutan and extend the Bhutanese hospitality brand's presence to Paro.
An accommodation count has not been included because published descriptions of the project's final inventory are not fully consistent. The 2029 opening also remains a projected timeline.
Drukair and the Department of Tourism coordinate overseas promotion
Drukair and Bhutan's Department of Tourism signed a Joint Marketing Agreement in January 2026 to coordinate the international promotion of Bhutan.
The agreement covers advertising, digital campaigns, content collaborations, travel fairs and roadshows. It is intended to improve destination visibility in priority markets and align tourism promotion more closely with Bhutan's aviation network.
Third weekly Singapore service improves regional access
Drukair introduced a third weekly service between Paro and Singapore via Guwahati in April 2026.
The additional frequency increased travel options between Bhutan, Northeast India and Singapore. It also strengthened access through Singapore, one of Asia's major aviation hubs.
Singapore was Bhutan's fifth-largest source market during H1 2026, contributing 2,476 visitors.
Bangkok service resumes through Guwahati
Drukair also restored its twice-weekly Paro-Guwahati-Bangkok service in April 2026.
The service restored direct air connectivity between Guwahati and Bangkok while providing another regional route linking travellers with Bhutan.
Thailand contributed 2,157 visitors during H1 2026, making it Bhutan's sixth-largest source market for the period. The resumed service is relevant to both inbound tourism and wider regional links between Bhutan, Thailand and Northeast India.
Source:
https://drukair.com.bt/drukair-reintroduces-guwahati-bangkok-route-with-inaugural-flight/
Bangkok seminar strengthens travel-trade engagement
Following the restoration of the Bangkok service, Drukair and its General Sales Agent in Thailand hosted an agents seminar in Bangkok.
The event brought together travel companies, tourism organisations, media representatives, chambers of commerce and cargo-sector participants.
Discussions focused on the resumed Bangkok-Paro connection through Guwahati and on strengthening tourism, trade and transport links between Bhutan, Thailand and Northeast India.
Source:
https://drukair.com.bt/drukair-hosts-agents-seminar-in-bangkok-to-strengthen-regional-connectivity/
PC-24 joins Pilatus maintenance programme
In June 2026, Drukair signed an agreement placing its Pilatus PC-24 aircraft under the manufacturer's CrystalCare programme.
The arrangement provides maintenance support and access to Pilatus' global support network. It is intended to support the aircraft's reliability, safety and long-term operation.
Source:
https://drukair.com.bt/drukair-signs-crystalcare-programme-with-pilatus-for-pc-24-aircraft/
New Airbus A320neo scheduled for January 2027
Drukair's near-term fleet expansion includes the lease of a brand-new Airbus A320neo from SMBC Aviation Capital.
An initial Letter of Intent was signed in Bangkok on 10 May 2025, after SMBC Aviation Capital was selected as the preferred lessor. Drukair said the aircraft formed part of its fleet renewal and modernisation plans.
The formal lease agreement was signed on 7 November 2025. Delivery is expected in January 2027, subject to the aircraft delivery schedule. Drukair's published material places the aircraft's expected arrival within the first quarter of 2027.
The new-generation aircraft is expected to add capacity while supporting more efficient operations across Drukair's regional network.
Sources:
https://drukair.com.bt/drukair-signs-letter-of-intent-loi-for-new-airbus-a320neo-lease/
https://drukair.com.bt/about-us/media-resources/
Longer-term fleet renewal planned from 2030
Drukair has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus covering the future acquisition of:
- Three Airbus A320neo aircraft
- Two Airbus A321XLR aircraft
Deliveries are expected to begin from 2030.
The A320neo aircraft would support fleet renewal and regional network development. The longer-range A321XLR could allow Drukair to consider destinations beyond the practical reach of its current narrow-body fleet.
The expansion is also connected to Bhutan's longer-term aviation plans around Gelephu Mindfulness City and its planned international airport. Potential future regions identified include Southeast Asia, Australia and Europe. These remain long-term network possibilities rather than confirmed routes.
Source:
https://www.dailybhutan.com/article/drukair-commits-to-fleet-renewal-and-expands-network-from-2030
H1 growth broadens Bhutan's tourism recovery
Bhutan's H1 2026 results show a clear acceleration in visitor demand.
Arrivals increased in every month compared with H1 2025, with particularly strong growth in January, May and June. India remained the country's principal visitor market, while the United States led the long-haul markets.
The entry data also underline the importance of maintaining both land and air access. Phuentsholing handled nearly six in ten arrivals, while Paro remained the main aviation gateway.
At the same time, Drukair's additional Singapore frequency, restored Bangkok connection and planned A320neo delivery are strengthening the aviation capacity needed to support further tourism growth. New hotels in Paro and Gangtey are also expanding accommodation options at different points along Bhutan's main western tourism circuit.
The second half of 2026 will show whether this momentum can be sustained through the autumn festival and trekking season. Performance will depend on air capacity, regional travel conditions and continued demand from both Indian and international markets.
