Allah Almighty has bestowed Pakistan beautiful country with deserts mountains, lakes, sea, rivers, rich in gas and minerals with excellent spots of tourism declared as one of the best area for tourism. Unfortunately, we failed to exploit our tourism spots due to dirty politics over riding personal interest and gains. This article basically is to remind people that Tourism in Pakistan is a growing industry. The country is geographically having a number of historical and cultural heritage sites that attract tourists from all over the world. To facilitate tourists Government of Pakistan has launched online visa services for 175 countries and 50 countries were offered visa on arrival is good step. In 2018, the British Backpacker Society ranked Pakistan the world’s top adventure travel destination, describing the country as “one of the friendliest countries on earth, with mountain scenery that is beyond anyone’s imagination. Pakistan is in top 25 percent of global destinations for its World Heritage Sites. Indus Valley civilization sites including Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa. Who can ignore the sites of Lahore, the Karakoram Highway and Lake Shaiful Mukluk. To promote the country’s cultural heritage some campaigns were launched but it was halfhearted approach. By comparison, Pakistan’s domestic tourism industry is estimated at 50 million tourists who travel in the country on short trips usually between May and August. To accommodate these tourists, you need hotels resorts with compatible rates. The largest inflow of tourists is from the United Kingdom, followed by the United States, India and China. Major tourist attractions in Pakistan include the ruin of Mohenjo-Daro , Harappa, the Himalayan hill stations mountain peaks over 23,000 feet, including K2,. The north of Pakistan has many old fortresses, including Humza and Chiral valley. In Punjab we have Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and Lahore Fort.
In 2019, during PTI government Pakistan increased the availability of travel visas in a bid to increase tourism to the country. The new program grants visas on arrival to travelers from 50 countries, including the United States. Citizens of another 175 countries can apply for visas on the internet. Many liberals and feminists in Pakistan express their reservations about the misrepresentation of Pakistan’s objective reality regarding the status of women in Pakistan by western white travel influencers. During the International Women’s Day March in Pakistan a placard came questioning, “If Cynthia does it, she’s applauded. If I do it, I’m the villain”. Cynthia Ritchie is an American travel and Social media influencer who rode a bike in Peshawar, Pakistani women are usually forbidden from cycling because it is seen as immodest. For example, a bicycle rally by girls in Peshawar was forced to be canceled, same time Cynthia Ritchie was being applauded, so Pakistan feminists questioned the double standard of Pakistani society. It cannot be denied that no government gave any importance to tourism and treated it as industry that had great potential in Pakistan. In some countries like Egypt Indonesia tourism fetches billions of dollar and each year the business keeps growing. We suffered a great deal in tourism because of two counts firstly giving no priority and appointing nonprofessionals. Secondly proper security arrangements to tourists. It will be unfair if PTI government is not praised for giving proper importance but they also failed to appoint professionals and left it to bureaucrats. Azeem Qureshi is a big name in hotel industry as travelled abroad in many countries and has worked in many 5 star hotels with excellent results now is exploiting Pakistan’s potential areas to establish Hotels & Resorts specially in Northern areas and other tourist potential spots to attract tourists from all over the world at competitive rates. He is now MD Legend Hotels & Resorts that has come up very well in making chains of hotels and resorts. Right man for the right job is key to success. He is internationally recognized figure and government should utilize his services in the field of tourism. It is hoped government shall extend full protection and fool proof security to ensure that tourists feel comfortable and to roam freely. One small incidence like Swat where a tourist was killed and burnt alive in front of his family is a horrible example of loose security arrangements that resulted in ill treatment of tourist. This incident has caused scare all over the world and as reported tourists have started moving back and it will take time to repair the damage done to tourist industry The family should be fully compensated. It is hoped adequate security measures shall be taken in future to ensure safety and security of tourists.
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