Improved Flight Connectivity Powers Bhutan’s Tourism Aspirations, Opening New Doors From Singapore, Bangkok, And Beyond

Published on September 2, 2025

Bhutan’s Tourism Sector Gears Up for Boost pinch New Drukair Flight Expansions

Bhutan’s inbound tourism manufacture is preparing for a activity of renewed maturation arsenic nan country’s nationalist carrier, Drukair, readies plans to grow seasonal flights connecting Paro International Airport pinch Singapore and Bangkok. The further services, expected to run during nan high-demand autumn and outpouring recreation periods, are projected to unfastened caller avenues for world arrivals, peculiarly from South-east Asia and long-haul markets.

Although charismatic commencement dates for nan expanded schedule person yet to beryllium confirmed, Drukair has outlined important enhancements to its location operations. The Singapore–Paro service, which presently operates doubly weekly, will spot nan summation of a 3rd frequency, while nan Bangkok–Paro way will summation 3 supplementary flights connected apical of its existing regular operations. This boost successful capacity is seen arsenic a timely catalyst for nan kingdom’s tourism betterment efforts.

“Looking astatine really capacity was deployed earlier nan pandemic, these other flights will apt tally for astir 10 weeks,” shared Joni Herison, head of partnerships astatine Druk Asia. The Singapore-based recreation specialist, which serves arsenic Drukair’s wide income agent, has agelong focused connected promoting Bhutan arsenic a destination for high-value, low-volume tourism. Herison emphasized that nan expanded connectivity is not only expected to pull visitors from Singapore and Thailand but besides from long-haul markets specified arsenic nan United States and Australia, wherever galore travellers link via Singapore’s Changi Airport.

To further harness this demand, Druk Asia is unveiling a bid of specially designed experiential journeys. The seven-day, six-night packages, developed successful collaboration pinch James Low—former wide head of a luxury Bhutanese resort—promise unsocial insider entree to Bhutanese civilization and traditions. The tours will see immersive experiences successful belief practices, organization interactions, and taste engagements that spell beyond accepted itineraries. These departures are scheduled for December 2025 and April 2026, targeting travellers seeking a much meaningful and authentic brushwood pinch Bhutan.

Bhutanese circuit operators are besides moving proactively to fortify their foothold successful location markets. Ugyen Y Lhendrup, managing head of onlyBhutan Tour, highlighted his company’s efforts astatine nan precocious concluded PATA Travel Mart, wherever he sought to grow inbound business from South-east Asia. “Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia are captious maturation markets for us,” he noted, pointing to nan convenience of formation connections via Singapore and Bangkok arsenic a competitory advantage. Building connected this momentum, Lhendrup plans to grounds astatine ITB Asia later this year, further positioning Bhutan among recreation agents and circuit operators successful nan wider region.

For different Bhutanese agents, nan timing of Drukair’s description is arsenic significant. Palden Jamyang, recreation head astatine Bhutan Travel Nexus, explained that his institution is actively moving to rebuild nan Thai market, which suffered dense setbacks during nan pandemic years. With further flights now successful nan pipeline, Jamyang sees greater opportunities to re-engage Thai outbound recreation agents and promote them to erstwhile again beforehand Bhutan to their clients. To entreaty to Thai preferences, Bhutan Travel Nexus has rolled retired caller itineraries pinch a stronger taste focus, offering temple visits, show experiences, and culinary explorations, alternatively than nan trekking-heavy packages traditionally associated pinch Bhutan.

The broader effect of these formation description s extends beyond contiguous tourism numbers. Industry observers propose that greater accessibility from cardinal hubs for illustration Singapore and Bangkok not only enhances Bhutan’s visibility but besides reinforces its estimation arsenic a niche, high-value destination. By aligning caller formation options pinch curated, experience-driven itineraries, Bhutan’s tourism assemblage is positioning itself to pull travellers who are motivated by taste immersion, wellness, and spirituality alternatively than mass-market sightseeing.

As Bhutan takes this measurement forward, nan optimism among section operators reflects a shared belief that nan kingdom’s unsocial tourism model—anchored successful sustainability and exclusivity—will resonate moreover much powerfully pinch post-pandemic travellers seeking authenticity. With Drukair’s expanded services serving arsenic a gateway, nan Himalayan kingdom is poised to invited a caller procreation of explorers eager to observe its landscapes, traditions, and measurement of life.