March 9, 2026
THIMPHU – The tourism sector is beginning to feel the impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East, with flight cancellations disrupting travel plans just as the country’s spring tourism season gets underway.
Flights between Paro and Dubai were cancelled from March 2 to March 17 after the temporary closure of Dubai airspace, a precautionary measure taken amid rising regional tensions.
Drukair operates flights on the Paro–Dubai route twice a week – on Mondays and Tuesdays, and on Fridays and Saturdays. A total of five scheduled flights were cancelled during the period, disrupting travel plans for tourists and other passengers.
Tour operators said the cancellations have already begun affecting tourist arrivals, with some travellers cancelling their trips at the last moment and hotels reporting booking cancellations.
Around nine international participants were unable to attend the Bhutan International Marathon, which kicks off today in Punakha, after being stranded in other destinations because of international flight disruptions linked to the conflict.
The cancellations come at a critical time for the tourism industry, with several major cultural festivals scheduled in the coming weeks. These include the Chorten Kora festival in Trashiyangtse on March 19, the Gomphu Kora and Talo Tshechu festivals from March 26 to 28, and the Paro Tshechu from March 29 to April 2 – events that typically attract a large number of international visitors.
Many passengers who had planned to travel through Dubai were forced to cancel their trips. Travellers scheduled to depart on March 2 were unable to reroute through alternative destinations because no flights were available on the same day.
Drukair facilitated travel arrangements the following day through alternative destinations. However, some tourists had to pay an additional day’s visa fee and Sustainable Development Fee (SDF), along with penalties.
Some tourists were also charged visa extension fees with penalties, raising concerns among tour operators, as none of the service providers was taking responsibility for the flight cancellations.
Amen Bhutan Tours and Treks reported that more than 70 of its clients, mostly from the Middle East and Israel, cancelled their trips due to the Dubai airspace closure and ongoing conflict.
Some operators said they had already cancelled four or more bookings, while others expect additional cancellations in the coming days.
A senior tour operator said the impact remains manageable for now, as the peak season has only just begun and Drukair has been facilitating rebookings and rerouting passengers through other destinations.
However, he said that if the conflict persists, it could significantly affect Bhutan’s tourism sector, which is still recovering from the pandemic.
“If the conflict prolongs, tourists from Europe and America may also start cancelling their trips,” he said, adding that the situation requires proactive measures from the government and tourism sector.
As of March 5, Drukair had refunded 41 passengers, including 37 foreign nationals and four Bhutanese, either fully or partially due to the flight cancellations.
Drukair officials said the airline has been assisting affected passengers through several measures to minimise inconvenience.
Passengers who faced indirect disruptions due to affected onward connections have been requesting full refunds, which are being processed upon verification.
For tickets issued under discounted group fares, requests for full refunds or ticket reissues are being reviewed and facilitated on a case-by-case basis.
Passengers have also been allowed to rebook or change their travel dates with change fees waived, including those indirectly impacted by the situation.
Passengers travelling on the Dubai route have also been permitted to change their travel sector without incurring change fees.
Approximately 22 foreign passengers were rerouted through alternative gateways, primarily via Bangkok and Delhi.
The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan has expressed concern about the potential impact on the tourism and hospitality sectors if the disruptions continue.
Hoteliers said booking cancellations have already begun to appear, while inquiries for hotel reservations and bookings normally expected to increase at the start of the tourism season, have slowed.
