THIMPHU, Bhutan, May 7 (Xinhua) -- A recently released fourth pay commission report of Bhutan has recommended the government to introduce sustainable development fee (SDF) on regional tourists which refer those tourists from India, Bangladesh and Maldives.

The report recommended introducing a Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) of 500 Nu (8 U.S. dollars) per head for regional tourist visiting Bhutan. This was recommended as part of the revenue enhancement measures.

As per the report, introducing of SDF on regional tourists would earn an estimated 425 million Nu (6.25 million U.S. dollars) annually. Bhutan has been receiving increasing number of regional tourists. In 2017, around 170,000 regional tourists have visited Bhutan, which has increased to 202,290 in 2018.

The pay commission report also recommended the government to look into the possibility of enhancing the SDF of 65 dollars currently levied on international tourists, as it has remained unchanged for the last 40 years or more.

The tourism officials were also with the view that, although nothing to do with the pay commission's report, there was a plan to introduce a minimal fee on regional tourist and also revise the current SDF of international tourists.

However, officials have clarified that this doesn't mean to discourage or restrict regional tourists. It is just about regulating and managing the regional tourists effectively. Regional tourists are important.

Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan in its recent report said that regional tourists are important for tourism. The increasing numbers of regional visitors are helping the hotel business stay afloat, as international tourists mostly visit during peak seasons.