Redefining the tourism sector

After several years of stagnation, the tourism industry in Pakistan is on the way up again and this time not just because of foreign tourists. Within the country, the inclination to travel and explore has increased. Gilgit Baltistan (G-B) received a record number of tourists last year and the trend is expected to continue this year as well. As ever, this is largely dependent on weather conditions since the roads in this region can quickly turn dangerous or become completely blocked if there is heavy rain or snow. To facilitate the movement of tourists, work has been ongoing for several weeks to ensure that the Babusar Pass stays open and clear of snow. The pass connects G-B to Mansehra and passes through Naran and Kaghan, both popular destinations in summer months. However, the pass is inaccessible for several months every year due to snow which has to be cleared to make the road safe for vehicles.

In addition to roads, it is imperative that the local tourism infrastructure is able to cope with the demands of a heavy influx of visitors. While there are a number of hotels and resorts available in the area, in 2015 they were reported to have reached maximum capacity. While this is good news, local authorities must ensure that an increase in tourism does not begin to affect G-B the way it has in places like Murree where litter, pollution and a tendency to cut down trees to make way for more buildings has all but destroyed the hill station’s charm. Along with local authorities, organisations like the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) play a vital part in maximising the potential of this industry. However, it has come to light that the PTDC is being  run without a managing director for the past seven months. This untenable state of affairs must be rectified if our tourism industry is to contribute significantly to the economy. The PTDC plays an important role in the industry and must not be left rudderless for months on end while the tourist season reaches its peak.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 26^th, 2016.

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