Bhutan: Background Information
Bhutan is one of the most remote and isolated places on earth. Bordered by two of the world’s superpowers, China in the north and India in the south, the small Buddhist nation of Bhutan, (population 650,000 with a land mass about the size of Switzerland), has remained independent and relatively untouched by the outside world. Since 1907, it has been ruled by a hereditary monarchy. In order to preserve Bhutan’s national identity, the Kings of Bhutan were cautious about the pace of modernization, so while other countries developed, Bhutan remained unchanged.
Until the 1960's Bhutan had no modern roads, no automobiles, no national currency, no telephones, no schools, no postal service and no tourists. The country remained closed to outsiders until the early 1970's, when the 3rd King began to modernize Bhutan. By 1990, 4000 tourists had visited the Kingdom. In 1999, the 4th King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, opened the floodgates of modernization by allowing television and the Internet. Last year, over 17,000 tourists visited Bhutan.
How will this Buddhist country come to terms with consumerism and the growing demand for material possessions? What can we learn from their choices as they struggle to preserve their culture and traditions? We hope to share the excitement of discovering some of the answers to these questions throughout our documentary.