The Ministry of Finance has started talks with RMA and the FIAB to determine whether to extend the loan deferment facility for sectors that are still experiencing financial difficulties, as the fourth phase of the monetary relief measures is scheduled to conclude on June 30, 2025. During yesterday’s 15th Meet-the-Press session, Finance Secretary Leki Wangmo stated that the ministry was addressing requests for ongoing assistance from a number of industries, including manufacturing, services, trade, commerce, hospitality, and tourism.
The government plans to assess non-performing loans and address issues in the hotel and tourism sector, despite international travel reopening and an airfare subsidy. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Bhutan, which represents hoteliers nationwide, made a request to the government in March of this year for an extra one-year extension of the loan deferment. BCCI proposes financing for hotels, rescheduling interest, and extending tax breaks to help recover from Covid-19 losses, addressing private sector stability concerns and implementing alternative support mechanisms.