Bhutan seeks to balance economy and environment with tourist taxes

In winter, Phobjikha Valley in central Bhutan is filled with thousands of black-necked cranes. — Photos: MELODY L. GOH/The Star

In the scenic Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, cleaning squads patrol forest and mountain trails on the lookout for litter left behind by tourists, removing empty water bottles and crisp packets stuck in bushes and trees.

The money to run these teams comes from a tourist tax that Bhutan has levied for decades to avoid over-tourism and preserve its status as South Asia’s only carbon-negative country – meaning it absorbs more emissions than it produces annually.