Tourists forego travel plans
A view of the picturesque Kumrat valley which has turned out to be a new attraction for tourists. Photo: Express/File
When sky-high utility bills, peaking petrol expenditures, and high food allocations monopolize the budgets of millions of families across the country, exploration and excursion fall way behind on the priority list of travel enthusiasts.
The uncertainty marking the political landscape during the past few months, alongside the worsening state of the country’s finances, has led to a sizeable drop in the number of tourists frequenting popular destinations, both within the city and outside. Since peaking inflation has greatly reduced the purchasing power of countless citizens, many are no longer willing to spend extra money on recreational activities.
Rao Abdul Rehman, a travel enthusiast from Model Town, would frequently plan tours to different parts of the country with his friends; however, fate took a turn this year as rising travel costs compelled him to cancel his itinerary.
“A one-week trip would earlier cost us up to Rs 300,000, and the eight of us would divide the expenses among ourselves. However, that same trip now costs at least Rs 400,000,” informed Rehman.
Like Rahman, a large number of other travel enthusiasts too are now forgoing their much-awaited holiday plans since they cannot spare money for recreation while trying their very best to fulfill household expenditures, including paying off heavy electricity bills.
According to the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan, the recent economic instability in the country has pushed a large proportion of regular travelers away from the tourism sector, leading to the closure of approximately 50 per cent of small tourist agencies.
“Earlier, the tourism sector was closed due to the Covid-19 outbreak, and now the financial issues facing the country have completely destabilized it,” said Chaudhary Anis Iqbal, leader of the association, who went on to add that the deepening political conflict in the country had also deterred numerous local and foreign tourists from visiting heritage sites within the city.
“I met with the ambassador of a European country, who, while agreeing that Pakistan was a decent tourism spot with picturesque sceneries, still felt that bringing foreign tourists to the country was very challenging since most travelers were concerned about their safety given the law-and-order situation on the ground,” justified Iqbal.
Iqbal’s observation is confirmed by data from the Walled City of Lahore Authority, which reports a 50 per cent drop in the number of tourists visiting popular historical sites like the Lahore Fort and Lahore Museum.
On the other hand, the Tourism Department of Punjab claims to be making its own efforts to promote tourism in the province; however, sources from within the department assert that the funding for newer tourist initiatives has thus far not been released.
Speaking to The Express Tribune on the matter, Tehmina Ahmed, spokesperson of the Punjab Tourism Department, said, “We have taken various steps to promote tourism in South Punjab during the upcoming winter season. The Dharabi Lake Resorts, Dadukhel, and Changa Manga Aqua Parks are being constructed and will soon be open to the public.”
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2023.