Latest news with #ParoInternationalAirport
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Top visa-free destinations Indian travellers can consider for international travel
When it comes to international travel, Indian travellers have a plethora of options to explore without the hassle of obtaining a visa. Here are some of the top visa-free countries that Indian passport holders can travel to without the need to worry about obtaining a visa. Angola: Offers a 30-day visa-free stay, allowing travelers to experience its diverse culture and landscapes. Barbados: A Caribbean paradise granting a 30-day visa-free entry, perfect for beach enthusiasts. Belarus: Allows a 30-day visa-free visit, provided travelers meet specific conditions, including having a valid multiple-entry visa for the EU or Schengen zone. Read more: 8 most beautiful and iconic museums in the world Bhutan: Yes, it's visa-free for Indians, but they will need to get an entry permit to enter Bhutan, which they can get upon arrival at designated entry points like Paro International Airport or the Phuentsholing border. Dominica: You get to enjoy a lengthy 180-day stay without a visa, which means you get ample time to plan and explore its gorgeous beaches and rich jungles. Cook Islands: 31-day visa free entry for Indian passport holders. Suitable for all those seeking peace and being amid nature for a change. Grenada: Offers visitors a 90-day visa-free stay so they can tour its picturesque coasts and spice plantations. Haiti: This destination allows a 90-day visa-free visit, although one needs to stay updated about the current political situation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Iran: Offers a 15-day visa-free entry, presenting a chance to delve into its rich history and architecture. Read more: Monsoon stunners: 5 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India that come alive with rain Jamaica: Permits a 30-day visa-free stay, perfect for experiencing its vibrant culture and music. Kazakhstan: You get a 14-day non-extendable visa-free entry. If you intend to stay beyond that time frame, you will need to apply for a visa. Malaysia: Extends a 30-day visa-free stay until December 31, 2026, offering a mix of urban and natural attractions. Maldives: Grants a 90-day visa-free entry, ideal for luxury beach vacations. Montserrat: Allows a 180-day visa-free stay, inviting exploration of its volcanic landscapes. Nepal: Indian nationals are allowed entry and stay without a visa, allowing them to see its spiritual places and majestic landscapes. Niue Island: Offers a 30-day visa-free entry, perfect for off-the-beaten-path adventures. Philippines: Introduced a 14-day visa-free entry for Indian nationals, promoting tourism and cultural exchange. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Allows a 30-day visa-free stay, ideal for island hopping and relaxation. Senegal: Allows for 90 days of entrance without a visa while presenting the history and culture of West Africa. Seychelles: Offers a 90-day visa-free stay, with travelers required to obtain a Seychelles Travel Authorization (STA) at a nominal fee. Thailand: Provides a 60-day visa-free entry, known for its vibrant cities and serene beaches. Trinidad and Tobago: Grants a 90-day visa-free stay, rich in cultural festivals and natural beauty. Hong Kong: Allows a 14-day visa-free entry, blending modernity with traditional Chinese culture. Planning your trip Policies can change, so it's important to verify the most recent travel advisories and admission requirements before considering these locations. Moreover, certain nations can demand documentation of subsequent travel, reservations for lodging, and adequate finances for the length of the visit. To cover unanticipated events, travel insurance is also advised. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
The Star
5 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Bhutan's emigration dilemma: Will they return?
THIMPHU: Despite a record wave of emigration, many Bhutanese living abroad are not closing the door on home. A new World Bank survey reveals that a majority of Bhutanese migrants, both those who have already left and those aspiring to leave, are open to returning. But there's a catch: the quality of jobs and pay must be better. According to the World Bank's Bhutan Development Update report released on May 26, 77.7 percent of aspiring migrants and 63.5 per cent of current migrants said they would consider coming back if job quality and working conditions improve. For most, the decision hinges not just on pay, but on professional dignity and stability. While many are willing to accept lower wages than what they currently earn abroad, about 25 per cent would only return for equal or higher salaries. One in five current migrants and one in ten aspiring migrants said they would only return for jobs paying more than Nu 100,000 (US$1,170) per month, well above the average salary in Bhutan. The survey highlights a key dilemma: the migration crisis is not necessarily irreversible. But whether the country can create enough incentive for its citizens to come home remains an open question. Bhutan is witnessing an unprecedented surge in international migration, with departures from Paro International Airport increasing more than tenfold since before the Covid-19 pandemic, from fewer than 500 monthly to over 5,000 by early 2023. The Bhutan Development Update identifies a potent combination of domestic push factors and international pull factors that are reshaping the country's demographic and economic landscape. As per the data shared by the World Bank's Global Bilateral Migration Matrix (2000–2020), between 2000 and 2020, the proportion of Bhutanese emigrants holding university degrees rose from 8.6 per cent to 13.5 per cent. The pace has only accelerated since international borders reopened in 2022, with Australia emerging as the most popular destination for Bhutanese migrants. According to the report, the migrant population in Australia has doubled from 12,424 in 2020 to over 25,000 today. To understand the shifting migration trends, the World Bank conducted a phone survey, covering 1,208 households. Of these, 465 included recent migrants, mainly to Australia post-2022, and 143 had aspiring migrants. The rest served as a control group. Among migrants, 53 per cent are women, with an average age of 29, and 85 per cent are married and well-educated (over half hold university degrees). In contrast, aspiring migrants are younger, predominantly male and less educated. For many, education is a key driver. About 42 pervcent of current migrants are either enrolled in academic programmes or are working while studying. Among aspiring migrants, 64 pervcent cite education as their primary motivation for going abroad. Income is another major factor. Most migrants reported earning less than Nu 40,000 (U$468) per month in Bhutan, compared to over Nu 60,000 (USD$702) after migrating. Strikingly, 40 percent now report monthly earnings exceeding Nu 220,000 (US$2,573). According to the World Bank report, every migrant reported an income increase after leaving the country. Favourable visa policies, relatively affordable tuition and cost of living, and well-established Bhutanese diaspora networks make Australia particularly appealing. The migration surge is compounded by growing domestic frustrations, particularly within the labour market. Bhutan's national unemployment rate doubled from three per cent before the pandemic to six per cent in 2022. Urban women, youth aged 20–24, and highly educated job seekers have been especially affected. Job quality remains a concern. Over 60 per cent of Bhutan's workforce report being overworked, and many lack formal contracts. Public sector employees are also increasingly becoming disillusioned. In 2024 alone, more than 2,000 civil servants resigned, 70 per cent of them voluntarily. Concerns about career stagnation, low pay, bureaucratic hurdles and high workloads, particularly in health and education, are fuelling exits. The health sector has seen a 16 per cent attrition rate among nurses, and many report job dissatisfaction and insufficient compensation. The survey also revealed that many Bhutanese migrants experience occupational downgrading after moving abroad. Before migrating, only one per cent worked in low-skilled jobs, but this jumps to 27 per cent in destination countries. While 46 per cent held professional roles in Bhutan, just three per cent did so after migrating. Casual labour also rose from four per cent in Bhutan to 22 per cent abroad. However, many migrants are currently students, and the World Bank cautions that the job downgrade may be temporary. Future employment outcomes willl depend on several factors and merit ongoing monitoring. The World Bank recommends that Bhutan adopt three approaches to manage external migration. First, to retain talent, the Bank suggests improving job quality, diversifying the economy beyond hydropower and enhancing public sector jobs, especially in health and education. Second, to reduce brain drain, the Bank advises the country to expand training and certication for skilled workers through international partnerships like Global Skills Partnerships, and consider service requirements or labour agreements with destination countries. And third, to maximise migration benefits, the bank recommends Bhutan to provide financial guidance to prospective migrants, engage the diaspora, support returnees, and promote formal, lowcost remittance channels to boost national development. - Kuensel/ANN
NDTV
29-04-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Thai King, Queen Pilot Plane To Bhutan, Land At Paro Airport In Style
When world leaders visit countries, massive security and protocol arrangements are in place but what perhaps is very rare in international visits by Heads of State is the dignitary piloting the plane himself. This is exactly what happened when the King and Queen of Thailand flew into Bhutan's Paro International Airport for an official visit to Bhutan. Aviation watchers have been completely mesmerised by the King and Queen, smoothly touching down at Paro, which is one of the most challenging approaches in the world. His Co-Pilot was the Queen of Thailand. The couple flew their Boeing 737-800 and landed at Paro and were welcomed by the Their Majesties, King and Queen of Bhutan. The captivating moment as His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn and Her Majesty Queen Suthida personally piloting the Royal Aircraft has perhaps given a whole new dimension to state visits. The King of Thailand has served as a career officer in the Royal Thai Army. He is a military pilot qualified to fly the Northrop F-5, F-16, and the Boeing 737-400. He ascended to the throne in 2019. This was his first official visit overseas, as monarch. Reports in the Bhutanese media said that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua, accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana, arrived in Bhutan on April 25, 2025, at the invitation of His Majesty the King of Bhutan. This was the first official State Visit by the Thai King and Queen to Bhutan. Upon arrival in Paro last week, Their Majesties were received with full honours at Paro International Airport by Bhutan's reigning monarch, His Majesty The King and Her Majesty The Gyaltsuen. After a four-day state visit to Bhutan that saw multiple engagements and programmes, Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand departed Bhutan on Monday when again the King Vajiralongkorn flew the plane, as the Their Majesties, The King and Queen waved Goodbye, marking an end to the official state visit.
CNN
14-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
Bhutan's new airport aims to transform the country forever
Mindfulness is one of the most popular concepts in the wellness industry right now — there are hotels, spas and classes all dedicated to its pursuit. But the Himalayan nation of Bhutan is taking the idea 20 steps further by building an entire mindfulness city. Gelephu, in southern Bhutan near the border with India, has been selected as the site of this city, although details have been scant about the project. Until now. The Bjarke Ingels Group architecture firm has unveiled its design for the upcoming Gelephu airport, offering the most insights into the city and its overall vision seen to date. The renderings show a series of wooden diamond-shaped structures, all of which are modular, making it easier to update or expand the airport in the future. Even on a good day, airports can be stressful places — delays, lost luggage, missed connections, long lines. So how can an airport embody a concept like mindfulness? According to Ingels, it's about utilizing natural elements in the design and embracing Bhutan's ethos of 'gross national happiness,' which takes residents' well-being into account for measuring quality of life. 'An airport is the first and last impression you get of a place you visit,' Ingels said in a statement. 'The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance… all the mass timber members are carved and colored according to traditional craft, adorned with three types of dragons representing the past, present and future of Bhutan. The result is traditional yet avant-garde, forward-reaching and rooted.' The airport, like the country, will be carbon-negative, its designers say, and use rooftop solar panels for power. Gelephu International Airport will measure 731,946 square feet and have capacity for 123 flights a day, with a maximum of 1.3 million passengers annually. That may be peanuts compared to mega-airports like London Heathrow or New York's JFK, but it's a huge figure for the landlocked country of Bhutan, which received just 316,000 tourists in 2019. Currently, all foreign visitors fly into Paro International Airport (PBH), near the capital of Thimpu. Due to Paro's challenging location between two Himalayan peaks, strong monsoon-season winds and lack of runway lighting, only a few small aircraft a day can fly in or out, all of which are short-hauls from nearby Asian cities like New Delhi and Bangkok. Gelephu is already home to a small domestic airport, but it was chosen as the site for the new international airport due to its flatter terrain, which means there will be space for longer runways that can accommodate larger jets. Its convenient location near India — Bhutan's primary diplomatic ally and trading partner — also makes Gelephu a strategic location for rail and road links. Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has been the driving force behind the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. 'This airport is essential for the success of the GMC as a business hub, and it is also a critical lifeline for Bhutan's national security, especially for a landlocked country,' the king said in a statement. The country, which has a population of about 750,000, is credited with pioneering 'high value, low impact' tourism. Visitors to the country must pay a daily sustainable development fee of $100, which goes toward funding health care, education and other public services in Bhutan. There is no confirmed opening date for Gelephu International.
CNN
14-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
Bhutan's new airport aims to transform the country forever
Mindfulness is one of the most popular concepts in the wellness industry right now — there are hotels, spas and classes all dedicated to its pursuit. But the Himalayan nation of Bhutan is taking the idea 20 steps further by building an entire mindfulness city. Gelephu, in southern Bhutan near the border with India, has been selected as the site of this city, although details have been scant about the project. Until now. The Bjarke Ingels Group architecture firm has unveiled its design for the upcoming Gelephu airport, offering the most insights into the city and its overall vision seen to date. The renderings show a series of wooden diamond-shaped structures, all of which are modular, making it easier to update or expand the airport in the future. Even on a good day, airports can be stressful places — delays, lost luggage, missed connections, long lines. So how can an airport embody a concept like mindfulness? According to Ingels, it's about utilizing natural elements in the design and embracing Bhutan's ethos of 'gross national happiness,' which takes residents' well-being into account for measuring quality of life. 'An airport is the first and last impression you get of a place you visit,' Ingels said in a statement. 'The airport architecture is composed of modular mass timber frames providing flexibility and expandability, resembling a stylized mountain range at a distance… all the mass timber members are carved and colored according to traditional craft, adorned with three types of dragons representing the past, present and future of Bhutan. The result is traditional yet avant-garde, forward-reaching and rooted.' The airport, like the country, will be carbon-negative, its designers say, and use rooftop solar panels for power. Gelephu International Airport will measure 731,946 square feet and have capacity for 123 flights a day, with a maximum of 1.3 million passengers annually. That may be peanuts compared to mega-airports like London Heathrow or New York's JFK, but it's a huge figure for the landlocked country of Bhutan, which received just 316,000 tourists in 2019. Currently, all foreign visitors fly into Paro International Airport (PBH), near the capital of Thimpu. Due to Paro's challenging location between two Himalayan peaks, strong monsoon-season winds and lack of runway lighting, only a few small aircraft a day can fly in or out, all of which are short-hauls from nearby Asian cities like New Delhi and Bangkok. Gelephu is already home to a small domestic airport, but it was chosen as the site for the new international airport due to its flatter terrain, which means there will be space for longer runways that can accommodate larger jets. Its convenient location near India — Bhutan's primary diplomatic ally and trading partner — also makes Gelephu a strategic location for rail and road links. Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has been the driving force behind the Gelephu Mindfulness City project. 'This airport is essential for the success of the GMC as a business hub, and it is also a critical lifeline for Bhutan's national security, especially for a landlocked country,' the king said in a statement. The country, which has a population of about 750,000, is credited with pioneering 'high value, low impact' tourism. Visitors to the country must pay a daily sustainable development fee of $100, which goes toward funding health care, education and other public services in Bhutan. There is no confirmed opening date for Gelephu International.
