Internationalising Skardu

As the airport finally opens its doors to international flights, facilities for tourists are still spotty

Skardu International Airport finally lived up to its middle name, after a PIA flight from Dubai with 79 passengers on board landed at the airport on Monday, aligning with Independence Day celebrations. The Airbus A320’s arrival was welcomed with a water cannon for the plane and flowers for all the passengers. The plane was upgraded to international status by former prime minister Imran Khan in December 2021, but the upgrade was in name only because it still lacked refueling and other necessary capabilities. These facilities only came online last week.

This is a great way to accommodate foreign tourists — high hopes are being attached to direct international flights helping encourage tourism — but it should also be noted that flight frequency will remain limited, at least initially. It is also worth noting that the first flight was only half full. While this may be blamed on lack of awareness of the flight, it should also be a reminder that simply adding a flight will not automatically bring in new passengers. The primary target customers of the flight are foreigners and overseas Pakistanis. However, security concerns will continue to create doubts in the minds of foreign tourists. And it is not just security in Skardu or the rest of Gilgit-Baltistan — even violence in other parts of the country can create such concerns.

Meanwhile, facilities for tourists are still spotty. While there are a few gems, several hotels and guest houses are either overpriced or outright substandard. Despite the region’s beauty, many tourists would want to ensure that they are getting their money’s worth, especially if they are being asked to pay resort-level accommodation costs. Dining options and other nightlife attractions are also limited, which may scare off many tourists from the Middle East and similar areas who are more interested in a break from the summer heat, and even the most nature-loving tourist will eventually want to do something other than hiking and enjoying the view.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 18^th, 2023.

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