G-B asks tourists to check weather before heading north

People asked to dress appropriately to respect local culture and weather

ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Development (GBTD) has issued special instructions for tourists coming to the territory.

Owing to persistent rains and the resultant flashfloods, landslides and roadblocks, the tourists have been asked to confirm the road situation before heading out lest their dream vacation becomes a nightmare.

“Tourists should confirm the road situation and about weather conditions before the start of their journey and they should also check the hotel reservation before the arrival,” a GBTD official said.



For air travelers he said it was a norm that flights were cancelled minutes before takeoff. Air travel is linked with the erratic weather of the valleys, therefore, plans should be flexible he said.

The official also requested the people visiting G-B to respect local culture and traditions. He asked people not to dress in a manner that the local populace may find offending. Apart from respecting the cultural norms, the drssing should also resapect the weather of the G-B that has a mood of its own and may drop by 20 degree Centigrade in the night.

Tourists should make sure about their garments as per the weather conditions, he said. He said tourists could get the training about camping and tracking with the professional trainers and to use gas and oil for cooking instead of using wood for fire.



He said tourists should be aware to drive slowly while coming to Khunjarab and Babusar and move in lower gears. Seeking advice from seasoned drivers would be beneficial he said. Regarding cleanliness, he said people come to the north to enjoy pollution free environment but some peolle have a habit of dumping garbage wherever they go. “Every tourists should dispose of the left overs in the allocated areas instead of spreading garbage everywhere,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2017.