Bhutan visitors to triple

The kingdom of Bhutan, which first welcomed tourists only in the 1970s, announced it will nearly triple the number of visitors allowed into the small country, from 30,000 in 2010 to 100,000 by 2012.

The prime minister said, “We want to expand this sector without compromising our policy of high-quality, low-impact tourism.”

Increased revenue plays a role. Bhutan does not limit the number of visitors from neighboring India, while most other visitors must pay a minimum of $200 a day in visa and travel agency fees and travel in prearranged guided groups.

The government plans to open new destinations, upgrade hotels and improve the credit card infrastructure.