Tour Guide, Thimphu, Bhutan
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Bhutan has an uplifting and welcoming atmosphere for visitors of this remote kingdom. Bhutan is a place of ancient monasteries, fluttering prayer flags and staggering natural beauty. Less than 40 years ago, Bhutan opened its borders to the world. Since then, it has gained an almost mythical status as a real-life Shangri-La, largely for its determined and methodical pursuit of the most elusive of concepts – national happiness.
What sets Bhutan apart is the devotion to the pursuit of happiness. What makes it different is that they are guided by the conviction that the purpose of development is to create conditions that will enable all citizens to find happiness.
Today, Bhutanese are firmly rooted in the learned values, and as a small nation, they are proud of their cultural entity with a strong sense of identity. It is true that people from Bhutan are well immersed in the globalized world and are fully exposed to its’ benefits and harms. But, they have the integrity of extended family network, communities and religious institutions. They manifest resilience as a society that is able to reconcile material pursuits with those of spiritual growth.
Bhutan's economy has grown and unemployment has decreased over time. People are happy and content.