BIF 2027 Festival Pass Terms & Conditions
These Terms & Conditions apply to tickets and passes issued for the Bhutan Innovation Festival 2027 ("BIF 2027"). By purchasing, registering for, or using a BIF 2027 Festival Pass, the ticket holder agrees to the following terms.
1. Festival Pass & Admission
The Festival Pass provides admission to the BIF 2027 festival programme during the applicable festival dates. Admission is personal to the registered ticket holder and may be subject to identity verification at registration and/or entry. The Festival Pass does not guarantee admission to every individual talk, session, workshop, roundtable, experience or activity within the Festival. Certain programmes may: - run concurrently; - have limited seating or capacity; - require advance registration; - be available on a first-registered or first-available basis; and/or - be subject to additional eligibility, programme or protocol requirements. The programme, speakers, session formats, timings, venues and experiences remain subject to change.
2. Ticket Price
The applicable ticket price is the price displayed at the time of purchase. The First Release Festival Pass is USD 1,500. Future ticket releases may be offered at different prices. The purchase price includes only the benefits specifically stated as included with the applicable Festival Pass. Accommodation, international airfare, ground transportation, and other personal travel expenses are not included unless expressly stated otherwise.
3. Visa Fee & Visa Application
For eligible international Festival Pass holders, the applicable Bhutan visa application fee is included in the Festival Pass price. The visa application process will be coordinated centrally by the BIF Secretariat in coordination with the relevant Department of Immigration focal point. Registered international participants will receive instructions regarding the required documentation and next steps. Purchase of a Festival Pass does not constitute approval or guarantee of a Bhutan visa. Final visa approval remains solely with the relevant Bhutanese government and immigration authorities. Ticket holders are responsible for providing complete and accurate documentation within the required timelines.
4. Visa Rejection & Refund
Festival Passes are generally non-refundable. However, where an international participant has complied with all required visa application procedures and their visa application is officially rejected by the relevant Bhutanese immigration or government authority, the Festival Pass fee, excluding the visa application fee, may be refunded upon submission and verification of official proof of rejection. The visa application fee is non-refundable once the application has been submitted, including in the event that the visa application is subsequently rejected. This exception applies only to the refundable portion of the BIF Festival Pass. BIF will not be responsible for refunding or reimbursing any third-party expenses, including international or domestic airfare, accommodation, travel-agent charges, insurance, transportation, or other travel-related costs.
5. Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) Waiver
Eligible registered international BIF 2027 participants will receive the approved Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) waiver for 18-31 March 2027, representing potential savings of up to USD 1,400 per person, based on the applicable USD 100 daily SDF. The waiver applies only within the officially approved dates and is subject to the applicable requirements of the Royal Government of Bhutan. Any stay outside the approved waiver period will be subject to the prevailing SDF and other applicable government charges, payable by the participant.
6. Travel & Accommodation
International airfare and accommodation are not included in the standard Festival Pass unless specifically stated otherwise. BIF may provide access to official travel partners who can assist participants with accommodation, transportation and travel arrangements in Bhutan. Any travel or accommodation arrangements made through a third-party provider are subject to that provider's own terms, availability, pricing, cancellation and refund policies. BIF is not responsible for contractual arrangements entered into directly between participants and third-party travel, airline, accommodation or other service providers.
7. Programme Changes & Availability
BIF reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the Festival programme, including speakers, moderators, sessions, venues, schedules, formats, activities and experiences. Certain experiences and access are subject to availability and, where applicable, programme, capacity, protocol and institutional approval. Changes to individual speakers, sessions, programme timings or activities do not automatically entitle the ticket holder to a refund.
8. Cancellation by the Ticket Holder
Except for the verified visa-rejection exception described above, Festival Passes are non-refundable in the event that a ticket holder chooses or is unable to attend. Participants are therefore strongly encouraged to obtain appropriate travel insurance covering cancellation, medical emergencies, travel disruption and other relevant risks.
9. Festival Cancellation or Material Changes
If BIF 2027 is cancelled in its entirety by the organiser and is not rescheduled, the organiser will communicate the applicable ticket refund or alternative arrangements to registered ticket holders. BIF will not be responsible for third-party expenses incurred by participants, including airfare, accommodation, travel-agent charges or other travel arrangements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
10. Health, Safety & Personal Responsibility
Participants are responsible for assessing their own ability to travel to and participate in BIF 2027 and associated activities. Participants are strongly encouraged to obtain adequate medical and travel insurance before travelling to Bhutan. Participants are responsible for their personal belongings and for following applicable safety instructions, venue rules and directions from Festival staff and relevant authorities. To the extent permitted by applicable law, BIF and its organisers will not be responsible for personal injury, loss or damage to personal belongings, or personal expenses arising from circumstances outside the organisers' reasonable control.
11. Conduct & Right of Admission
BIF reserves the right to refuse admission or remove a participant where reasonably necessary for safety, security, disruptive behaviour, violation of Festival rules or applicable law. Participants must comply with venue security requirements and instructions issued by BIF, venue management and relevant Bhutanese authorities.
12. Photography, Filming & Media
BIF 2027 may be photographed, filmed, livestreamed or otherwise recorded. By attending, participants acknowledge that they may appear incidentally in Festival photography or recordings used for legitimate Festival communications, documentation, media and promotional purposes, subject to applicable law.
13. Personal Information
Participant information will be collected and processed as necessary for ticketing, Festival registration, visa coordination, security, Festival communications and other legitimate operational requirements. Where information must be shared with relevant government authorities or authorised Festival service providers for these purposes, it will be handled in accordance with applicable requirements and BIF's privacy policy.
14. Bhutanese Pass
The Bhutanese Pass is a separate ticket category intended exclusively for eligible Bhutanese citizens and will be subject to its own eligibility and registration requirements, including Bhutan NDI verification where applicable. Its final programme access, inclusions, allocation and other conditions will be confirmed before the Bhutanese Pass is released.
15. Experience Pass
The Experience Pass is a separate package and may include additional travel, accommodation, activities and ground arrangements. Its final itinerary, inclusions, exclusions, pricing, cancellation conditions and third-party travel terms will be published separately before sale. The approved BIF SDF waiver period remains 18-31 March 2027, while the currently planned Experience Pass itinerary is approximately 10 days.
16. Acceptance of Terms
By completing the purchase or registration process, the participant confirms that they have read and accepted these Terms & Conditions and any additional policies applicable to their ticket category.