A new way to see Bhutan
The idea to build a major travel and economic hub in Gelephu was conceived by King Wangchuck more than a decade ago, but Covid was the catalyst. During the pandemic, the nation essentially shut down until September 2022, tanking its tourism industry and exacerbating a youth exodus that was already underway. By developing an independent city within the kingdom that blends business-friendly incentives for international companies while prioritising sustainability and spirituality, the nation that famously measures Gross National Happiness is hoping that GMC won’t just create jobs and lure investors; it will also draw travellers beyond the familiar western circuit into its lesser-visited south.
“GMC will create a lot of job and investment opportunities,” Dr Lotay Tshering, who served as Bhutan’s prime minister during the pandemic and is now GMC’s Governor, told BBC Travel. “[But] we must have flights coming in… we must have passengers.” When it’s completed, the new airport is expected to become the country’s primary aviation hub.
“We envision [Gelephu] as a stopover [for international visitors],” added Tshering Dolkar, the region’s tourism director. “Instead of flying through Hong Kong or Bangkok, travellers will opt to fly through Gelephu and spend some days on a jungle safari or in meditation.”
Wildlife, hiking trails and homestays
The Bhutan that visitors will see in Gelephu is a far cry from the monastery-crowned cliffsides or prayer flags flapping in the wind that the kingdom is famous for. It’s lush, fragrant and subtropical – think: cardamom and orange groves, and farmland threaded with rivers and palms and hot springs that have drawn Bhutanese for generations.
Gelephu is a biodiversity hotspot, home to golden langurs, tigers, rhinos and elephants
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