New international airport to open in world’s ‘happiest country’ with forests, yoga lounges and more long-haul flights

A MAJOR new airport is set to transform the a nation often dubbed the happiest country in the world.

Bhutan, a landlocked country between India and China, has revealed plans for a huge new airport.

Images of the new airport show a jagged design that replicates a mountain range, with diamond structures interlocking.

Inside will be huge gardens and plant life as well as an open-air forest in the middle.

Called the Forest Spine, it will split the terminal between domestic and international flights.

Across the four zones will be yoga spaces, outdoor lounges and even meditation and sound bath areas.

Yet to be confirmed, the cost of the airport could be as much as BTN20 billion (£178million).

It hopes to open by 2029.

Gelephu is already home to a domestic airport, although the new plans how to welcome long-haul flights.

Gelephu International Airport hopes to welcome 123 flights a day, working out to 1.3million passengers a year.

While this is a fraction of other international airports – London Heathrow welcomed a record 83.9million last year – it is still nearly four times the number of tourists who visit a year.

With a population of 795,186, around 316,000 tourists visit a year.

And it hopes to make long-haul flights easier, with the majority currently flying via Paro International Airport in the city of Thimpu, the capital.

However, its location near the mountains mean only a few flights can land a day, the majority being short-haul, smaller aircraft.

While Brits can't currently fly directly to Bhutan, the new airport could pave the way for new flights.

Bjarke Ingels, Founder & Creative Director of BIG, said “An airport is the first and last impression of a place you visit.

“For the Gelephu International Airport, we have tried to embody the nature and culture of the country and the Mindfulness City.

“The forests that cover the highlands are allowed to flow from the arrival plaza through the airport to the tarmac.”

Despite its difficult location, a number of famous people have visited Bhutan over the years.

King Charles visited in 1998, then visiting as Prince Charles, along with the Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2016.

Ed Sheeran visited earlier this year as part of a concert tour, while celebrities including Demi Moore, Drew Barrymore and Keanu Reeves have all visited.

It is also often named the Land of Happiness, after creating its own “Gross National Happiness Index” to focus on a number of factors.

This includes psychological well-being, health, education, good governance, ecology, time use, community vitality, culture and living standards.

Start saving to visit though – tourists have to pay a daily fee of $100 (£77) for adults or $50 (£38) for kids.

Called the Sustainable Development Fee, it is put towards conservation of the nation, which is one of the only carbon-negative ones in the world (meaning it takes out more carbon than it produces).

While it may seem steep, the reduced fee is in place until 2027 – with the original tax costing double this at $200 (£154) for adults.