Overcoming COVID-19 in Bhutan Lessons from Coping with the Pandemic in a Tourism-Dependent Economy – (PDF/EPUB Version)

Bhutan has carried out early and decisive measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), including restrictions on tourists since March 2020. This approach, though effective, severely affected the economy, bringing the tourism and aviation sectors to a virtual standstill. Given Bhutan’s limited resources and capacity to cope with a full-blown outbreak, such a trade-off was inevitable. This policy brief assesses the Government of Bhutan’s financial relief measures extended to the most affected people, as well as investment programs and other interventions, with a special focus on the tourism sector.