Bhutan’s double bet: Mindfulness and nature to drive tourism and investment

[THIMPHU, BHUTAN] Bhutan, long regarded as one of the world’s most serene and isolated destinations, is opening a new chapter – one that seeks to blend its spiritual heritage with modern economic ambitions.

At the heart of this transformation is the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC), a massive urban project in southern Bhutan, designed to attract high-quality foreign direct investment while preserving the kingdom’s ethos of Gross National Happiness.

Envisioned as both an economic and spiritual hub, the Mindfulness City represents a bold experiment in development, in which governance is rooted in Bhutanese values, yet informed by globally recognised frameworks for transparency, regulation and innovation.