The Kingdom of Bhutan is a tiny, landlocked country in the Eastern Himalayas, bordering on China and India. Until the mid-20th century, Bhutan was largely isolated from the outside world, and it was only in 1999 that Bhutan introduced television and internet. Western tourists are only beginning to visit Bhutan, and travel there is still very restricted. What is known of Bhutan to the outside world is that it has a spectacular, unspoiled natural environment and rich and unique cultural heritage, which has remained largely in-tact due to its isolation from the outside world. The Government of Bhutan, emphasizing the importance of spiritual and cultural aspects over economic development, introduced the Gross National Happiness philosophy in 1972, which provides a framework for governance and development for the country.
