Improved tourism outlook pleases WB

WB congratulates Pakistan on improved tourism ranking

ISLAMABAD:

The World Bank (WB) has congratulated Pakistan on its improved ranking in the International Travel and Tourism Development Index.

In a tweet, Country Director for Pakistan Najy Benhassine congratulated the country for improving its ranking by six points in the International Travel and Tourism Development Index.

He mentioned that Pakistan was at the 89th spot in 2019 and had risen to the 83rd position in the rankings for the year 2021.

He attributed this development to the enabling business environment of the country along with enhanced security for tourists and the connectivity infrastructure in place.

The index, which has “Rebuilding for a Sustainable and Resilient Future” as its theme for the year 2021, ranked Japan in the first spot, followed by the United States, Spain, France, Germany Switzerland, Austria, Singapore, and Italy.

With its appealing geographical features and cultural diversity, Pakistan has the potential of standing out as one of the most striking tourist destinations in the world, but much of it remains untapped.

Previously, the security situation led to a decrease in tourism, but ever since the government and the security forces worked together to improve the security atmosphere, the country has started witnessing a rise in tourism.

The improvement in ranking can be seen as a result of the government’s efforts coupled with growing awareness through social media.