Pakistan’s Tottering Tourism

Pakistan’s tourism industry has been paying heavy price for the deadly violence plaguing the country.

“Our cultural tourism has conceded a serious setback during last few years due to poor law and order situation,” Syed Nazimuddin, director of Nazir Sabir Expedition, a leading tourism operator in Pakistan, told IslamOnline.net.

“I would say it has gone to Zero level.”

Pakistan has been an attraction for tourists from around the globe for its untameable mountains, lush forests, glaciers and ancient archaeological sites.

But the deadly violence plaguing the country over the military offensive against Taliban militants in the tribal area has left its impact on the tourism industry.

Thousands of tourists have declined to visit Pakistan, with foreign governments urging their citizens to avoid visiting the south Asian Muslim country.

“Except adventure tourism (mountain climbing), all other sectors of tourism industry have been collapsed,” Nazimuddin, a former director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), said.

“The traditional tourists and backpackers, who till a few years back, would prefer to come here, have turned their faces to other countries.

He cites a drop in the number of mountain climbers, who use China route to trickle into Gilgit-Baltistan region.

“If I show you the statistics, there is a 30 to 40 percent decline in number of mountain climbers,” he said.

“In 2006, we sent around 90 climbers and trekkers to different expeditions, while in 2008, the figure reduced to 50.”

According to the tourism ministry statistics, the number of foreign trekkers have declined from 1100 to 153 during the period of 2006 and 2008.

Pakistan boasts five of the world’s highest peaks, over 8,000 meters, all in a 20-kilometer radius in the Northern Areas, where three of the world’s most fabled mountain ranges meet; the Himalayas, the Karakorams and the Hindu Kush.

Most of Pakistan’s tourist sites are located in north western frontier province (NWFP), the epicentre of a deadly violence.

The province has witnessed seven suicide attacks and car bombings in the past three weeks, killing over 200 people.

“Pakistan’s historical and archaeological sites, and traditional expedition sites have been waiting for tourists for last two years,” Nazimuddin laments.

Bleak Future

Swat Valley is one of the worst-hit area by the unrest.

“We are the worst affectees of this so-called war on terror,” tourist operator Sohrab Ali Khan told IOL.

Swat, a conglomerate of four valleys, is world-renowned for its scenic beauty, fascinating landscapes, crystal clear water torrents, ancient relics and mesmerizing lakes.

Dubbed Pakistan's Switzerland, visitors can feast their eyes on the diverse bounties of nature ranging from the densely forested mountains to the snaking rivers and torrents.

The valley is also reputed for its breath-taking lakes which not only feeds the emerald Green River Swat but also provides ideal camping sites for nature lovers.

The economy of the lush green and historic region is heavily dependent on tourism and it used to be a magnet for thousands of foreign and local tourists, especially during the months of May through September.

“Our mainstay was tourism,” said Khan.

“Though, the law and order situation in Dir, and Chitral is normal, but the vicinity factor has ruined our (tourism) business.

“All the area hotels, rest houses, and motels are lying vacant. You can get a room at a three-star hotel in Swat against a few hundred rupees, for which you had to pay in thousands till two years back,” a frustrated Khan said.

“Gone are the days, when thousands of tourists would visit our beautiful area every year. We hardly receive tourists in these days.”

Khan sees a bleak future for Pakistan’s tourism industry.

“We are facing a dark future of near-starvation due to dwindling flow of visitors,” he said.

“Tourist guides, porters, and others attached with tourism industry, have either left this field or are going to test their luck in other fields as they don’t see any improvement at least in near future.”

The tourist operator believes that Pakistan’s tourism industry would never recover as long as US-led foreign troops remain in neighboring Afghanistan.

“Withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan is not in our hands, but choosing another profession is in our hands,” he said.

“So we will go for that, whatever is in our hands.”