An influx of tourists and adventure sports enthusiasts from plain districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and Punjab provinces have thronged to the scenic Galiyat valleys to beat the sizzling heat during the Eid holidays.
Ayubia-Nathiagali, Donga Gali-Ayubia and Mukshpuri Top were the most frequented sites. The snow-clad mountains peaks of Mukeshpuri and Miranjani provide a majestic backdrop for tourists.
A substantial number of tourists were seen on fast-moving swings and Ayubi chairlifts. The influx meant business for local guides and service providers, including those offering horse rides.
There were complaints that some of the hotel and restaurant owners were exploiting the shortage of accommodation at Nathiagali, Ayubia and adjoining scenic resorts and charging exorbitant prices and fleecing tourists.
A hotel was charging Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 per room per night, which is beyond the purchasing power of low-income domestic tourists.
“Nathiagali is the prime choice of domestic tourists in hot weather due to its pleasant weather, easy mobility, diverse natural viz-a-viz mountainous beauty and waterfalls, however hotel charges needed to be checked by the government,” said Imran Khan, an architect of Nowshera district.
He said such high charges by private hotels may negatively impact in total intake of tourists to Nathiagali, Ayubia, Dongali, Harnoi, Bagnotar and Thandyani.
To provide affordable accommodations to tourists, the K-P government has established camping pods at Sharan Saiful Malook Lake, Gabeen Jaba Swat, Mahaband Buner-Swabi, Allai Batagram, Bamburait Chitral, Tandyani Abbottabad, Bisigram Swat, Yakhtangi Shangla, Saheed-e-Sir, Malka Swat and Sheikh Badin DI Khan.
Shad Khan, the spokesperson for K-P Culture and Tourism Authority, said Bishigram, Shran, Yakhtangi, Shaheed-e-Sir and Malk camping pods have already been opened for tourists while the remaining pods would be shortly opened after the completion of renovation works.
He said each pod has two to four beds for families, a washroom and a small kitchen, adding Rs3,500 to Rs5,000 per night stay was being charged against Rs15,000 to Rs20,000 per room by private hotels at Kaghan, Naran and Galiyat valleys.
He said 10 more camping pods at Jargo and Sulatanr in Swat, Lashkargha Broghal Valley and Surlaspur Shandor Valley Upper Chitral, Kumrat Valley in Upper Dir, Laram Top and Shahi Bin Shahi in Lower Dir, Lilowani Alpuri in Shangla Samanah Top in Orakzai/Hangu and Kalam Swat were planned.
“River Kunhar trout fish, river rafting, snowfall and adventure sports features make it unique,” he added.
“Ecotourism spots are being developed at premises of small dams including Tanda dam Kohat, Chatri dam in Haripur, Naryab Hangu, Kundal Swabi and Chalgoza Abbottabad to promote day-long families tourism,” he added.
He said the PC-1 of Chatri, Naryab and Tanda dams tourism sites were completed and practical work would soon be started. “The tourism police force has been launched by the K-P government to facilitate tourists,” Tourism police in Hazara and Malakand divisions were already made operational, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2023.
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