Inbound travel trade players in Bhutan are preparing to capitalise on the expansion of potential business from Singapore and Thailand, spurred by Drukair’s imminent increase in seasonal flight frequencies from both Singapore and Bangkok to Paro International Airport during the upcoming peak travel periods of autumn and spring.
Although exact dates for the added frequencies have yet to be announced, Drukair is set to add an additional frequency to its current twice-weekly Singapore service, along with three extra flights from Bangkok to Paro International Airport on top of its existing daily service.
“Based on pre-pandemic trends, the added frequencies will last for 10 weeks,” shared Joni Herison, director, partnerships for Druk Asia, which is a Bhutan travel specialist and also the Singapore general sales agent for Drukair.
He believed the improve accessibility will encourage more high-value travellers from these markets as well as from the US and Australia, transiting through Singapore, to consider Bhutan for leisure, cultural, and nature-based experiences.
Druk Asia, which specialises in curating bespoke tours on spiritual, meditation, incentive travel for corporate companies, educational tours and destination weddings, has partnered with James Low, former general manager of a luxury resort in Bhutan and a trusted figure in Bhutanese circles, to offer seven-day-six-night insider experiences where guests will gain access to people, places and perspectives not open to the average traveller. Scheduled departures are in December 2025 and April 2026.
Ugyen Y Lhendrup, managing director of onlyBhutan Tour, said part of his motivation for participating as a seller at the recently concluded PATA Travel Mart was to expand his inbound business from South-east Asia. He aimed to strengthen networks and secure more agent partners in markets such as Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, where growth potential is supported by convenient air connections via Bangkok and Singapore.
To build on this momentum, he will also exhibit at the upcoming ITB Asia, further promoting Bhutan to agents from Singapore and the wider region.
Another agent, Palden Jamyang, travel manager at Bhutan Travel Nexus, shared that the increased air capacity comes at a timely moment, as his company works to rebuild the Thai market lost during the pandemic. The additional flights provide stronger opportunities to engage outbound agents in Thailand and encourage them to promote Bhutan more actively.
His company has introduced new itineraries focused on cultural experiences, which tend to appeal more to Thai travellers than hiking and trekking.
