Bhutan tourism hit

THIMPU - Bhutan is facing its worst tourist season in more than a decade with visitors cancelling their trips. Only 4,468 tourists visited Bhutan this year, against 7,559 in 2000.

"The tourism industry has already been affected very badly but it is only going to get worse," said a tour operator.

Bhutan earns US$10 million a year from tourism.

State carrier Druk Air said 80 percent of US visitors had cancelled, with the rest from Europe and Japan.