Hospitality

In traditional Bhutanese communities, a guest is generally welcomed and looked after with much warmth and generosity. It is customary to invite visitors into the house. Bhutanese would not turn away a visitor but instead serve them food and drinks, often the best of what they have. A visitor would often be served alcohol first followed by tea and meals. In the past, travellers would also have a cup ready to accept the drinks offered. Most Bhutanese believe that sending a guest away happy and the prayers a guest makes will positively affect the family's welfare. Guests would normally have present when they arrive and/or leave a parting cash tip when they leave depending on the social status vis-a-vis the host.