LIFESTYLE-BHUTAN-ECONOMY-TOURISM

TO GO WITH LIFESTYLE-BHUTAN-ECONOMY-TOURISM story by Adam Plowright In this photograph taken on August 19, 2011, the giant Buddha Dordenma statue, still under-construction, overlooks the capital city of Thimphu. The isolated kingdom of Bhutan is one of the most expensive holiday destinations in the world and a haven for celebrities and the well-heeled. Foreign tourists are required to book through licensed tour operators, who charge a minimum high-season price of 200 dollars per day per person for an all-inclusive package including accommodation, food and transport. rom the start of 2012, the high-season daily fee will rise to $250 per day per person, meaning a stay in one of the basic hotels as part of the package will cost a travelling couple at least $500 a night. AFP PHOTO/ MANAN VATSYAYANA (Photo by Manan VATSYAYANA and - / AFP) (Photo by MANAN VATSYAYANA/AFP via Getty Images)