Why is This the Best Practice?

Bhutan's main best practices are all very efficient ways for the country to achieve its goal of creating memorable experiences while maintaining the environment, culture and society of the country. They have been recognized all over the world for these efforts.

• Gross National Happiness (GNH)

The core mission of GNH is "Development with values." (Tobgay, 2016) Everything the country does, is with the good of the country and its environment in mind. It really achieves the "triple bottom line" approach, as discussed by Morrison.

"The basic approach envisaged for the sustainable development of tourism in Queensland was the ‘triple-bottom-line’ through which a balancing of economic, social and environmental goals would be achieved” (Morrison, 2013, p 182)

• A promise to remain carbon neutral

Being carbon negative will allow the country to preserve their natural resources for future years and travelers to come

“The Government shall ensure that, in order to conserve the country’s natural resources and to prevent degradation of the ecosystem, a minimum of sixty percent of Bhutan’s total land shall be maintained under forest cover for all time” -Bhutan's Constitution

• Government interest

A government that is fully committed to the goal of sustainability, means that all parties are working towards a common goal for the good of the country. There is a trickle-down effect. If the very top is dedicated to goal, then it will encourage all other entities within the country to be dedicated in the same way, all the way down to the local residents in the smallest villages. The government created concept of GNH is a way of life.

• $250 mandatory daily tourism tariff

This tariff ensures that all travelers are receiving genuine, authentic experiences, because they are being led by a local guide, and that they are partaking in responsible practices so that future travelers will be able to enjoy the exact same Bhutan.

The tariff serves multiple cultural, environmental, economic, and social purposes. First, its high daily cost limits the number of tourists who can visit the country as a means to minimize negative environmental and cultural impacts. Second, the high cost also drives economic development despite limiting tourist numbers. Third, a government royalty built into the tariff serves as a means to fund education and health care in the country. (Schroeder, 2015, p 16620)