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Tourism in Pakistan

Summary

Tourism in Pakistan is a growing industry.[1] In 2010, Lonely Planet termed Pakistan "tourism's 'next big thing'". The country is geographically and ethnically diverse, and has a number of historical and cultural heritage sites. Condé Nast Traveller ranked Pakistan The Best Holiday Destination for 2020[2] and also declared it the third-highest potential adventure destination in the world for 2020.[2] As security in the country improves, tourism increases; in two years, it has increased by more than 300%.[3] The Pakistani government had launched online visa services for 175 countries[4] and 50 countries were offered visa on arrival,[5] making visiting Pakistan easier. The country received an influx of travel vloggers, who promoted the characteristics of the country, such as in the Northern Pakistan, like Hunza and Skardu.[6]

Alamgiri Gate at Lahore Fort, Punjab
Lake Saiful Muluk, located at the northern end of the Kaghan Valley, near the town of Naran in the Saiful Muluk National Park.
The 7,788-metre-tall (25,551 ft) Rakaposhi mountain towers over Hunza Valley

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 wildest imagination".[7] Forbes ranked Pakistan as one of the ‘coolest places’ to visit in 2019.[8] The World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report placed Pakistan in the top 25 percent of global destinations for its World Heritage Sites, which range from the mangroves in the Indus delta to the Indus Valley civilization sites including Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.[9]

According to the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Pakistan's GDP in 2015 was US$328.3 million, constituting 2.8% of the total GDP.[10] According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to Pakistan's GDP in 2016 was Rs. 793 billion (equivalent to Rs. 4.0 trillion or US$14 billion in 2021), constituting 2.7% of the total GDP.[11] By 2025, the government predicts tourism will contribute Rs. 1 trillion (US$3.5 billion) to the Pakistani economy.[12]

In October 2006, one year after the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, The Guardian released a list of "the top five tourist sites in Pakistan" to help the country's tourism industry.[13] The sites included Lahore, the Karakoram Highway, Karimabad and Lake Saiful Muluk. To promote the country's cultural heritage, in 2007, Pakistan launched the "Visit Pakistan" marketing campaign that involved events including fairs, religious festivals, regional sporting events, arts and craft shows, folk festivals and openings of historical museums.[14]

In 2013, over half a million tourists visited Pakistan, contributing $298 million; these figures have since risen to over 6.6 million tourists in 2018.[15] 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.[16] The largest inflow of tourists are from the United Kingdom, followed by the United States, India and China.[17][18]

Overview edit

 
Kalash people in northern Pakistan are an ancient community

Major tourist attractions in Pakistan include the ruin of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa, the Himalayan hill stations.[19] Pakistan is home to several mountain peaks over 7,000 metres (23,000 feet), including K2, which draw adventurers and mountaineers from around the world.[20] The north of Pakistan has many old fortresses, ancient architecture and the Hunza and Chitral valleys, which are home to small Kalash communities and Fairy Meadows, and the Diamer District of Gilgit Baltistan. Punjab province has the historic city of Lahore, Pakistan's cultural capital, with many examples of Mughal architecture such as Badshahi Masjid, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir and Lahore Fort.[citation needed]

In the 1960s Pakistan was part of the "hippie trail" stretching from Europe to Asia. That tourism disappeared in the 1970s with the conversion from a liberal government to an Islamized Pakistan under dictator Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Due to subsequent Taliban and al-Qaeda influence, especially after the September 11 attacks, westerners became the target of local branches of those terror organizations.[21] Domestic tourism also slowed as a result of terrorism and anti-terror military operations which had taken the lives of more than 65,000 in Pakistan between 2001 and 2018.[21]

Image and influencers edit

Pakistan's real problem is its image... Positive messages would strengthen your image... There are more dangerous countries ... but their image is an exotic one... Italy .. mafia is 20,000 ..the rest of 60m people are normal...

Andreas Ferrarese, Italian ambassador to Pakistan[22]

The upsurge in tourism in the past few years has been aided by the Government of Pakistan's recent decision to end mandatory No Objection Certificates for foreign tourists seeking to visit certain parts of the country.[23] According to journalist Samira Shackle, since 2018 one estate dealing company promoting Gwadar properties as new Dubai started organizing visits for travel influencers.[21] Shackle says, lately Pakistan has become an unexpected destination for western social media influencers producing glossy, upbeat travel content.[21] Travel influencers popular on social media like Rosie Gabrielle, Food Ranger, Drew Binsky too were roped in image building for Pakistan tourism.[21] Shackle says, under Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Government of Pakistan has encouraged this tourism.[21] For 2020 Forbes listed in top ten tourist destinations where as Condé Nast Traveller went ahead to rank Pakistan on first number as a tourist destination.[21] Shackle says, while some Pakistanis find pride in recruited influencer driven image making, many other Pakistanis are bewildered.[21] According to Shackle some critics believe that promotion of tourism is just mere attempt of deflecting domestic & international attention from realities of terrorism, nuclear irresponsibility, money laundering, lack of democracy and human rights issues in Pakistan.[21]

Shackle maintains that the influencers are accused of parroting Pakistan government's points.[21] Shackle says Pakistan has a 'White (Gora) complex' just for mere being white travelers Pakistanis are ever ready to provide preferential treatment along with free mass media and social media exposure.[21] In January 2019 Karachi-based comedian, Shehzad Ghias Shaikh went on to create a hoax Twitter account with a name and image pretending to be an American woman vlogger by the name 'Samantha A Gerry'; within hours Twitter handle of 'Samantha A Gerry' received hundreds of messages including from high-profile Pakistanis offering to take care and party. When the Twitter handle wrote how beautiful Pakistan is along with some anti-India sentiment popularity among Pakistani social media enthusiasts increased immediately.[21] According to Amtul Baweja and Fahad Tariq, it is okay if foreign tourist vloggers are given good treatment but the same treatment is not given to local vloggers.[21]

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.[24] 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, a city in north-western Pakistan, 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,[25] same time Cynthia Ritchie was being applauded, so Pakistan feminists questioned the double standard of Pakistani society.[26][24]

Shackle says just months after influencer Eva Zu Beck's vlogs hotel and bus transport were attacked by terrorists, still she does not seem to address the issue or keep the audience informed.[21] According to travel influencer Eva Zu Beck, their vlogs are neither travel guides nor practical pieces of advice but those are just stories, and she declines any obligation to offer security advice saying they are not in that kind of content.[21] According to Shackle one of the travel influencer Cynthia Ritchie went on to embroil herself in Pakistani politics including attacking Pakistani liberals and political opposition.[21]

According to Tazayian Sayira (2022) study, suffering anthropogenic crisis Pakistan needs an image makeover from it being known as the place of violence, conflict, terrorism and the Government of Pakistan has lately attempted some repositioning in the direction of an image makeover.[27] Tazayian Sayira (2022) study says, while Quran encourages traveling, but in practice very trying constraints are placed on the participation of women in tourism in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan and many of these countries women are restrained from traveling without a close male relative called mahram (i.e. father, non-cousin brother, son), though women are main behind the scene contributors in service provisions like food, laundry, souvenir production, the labor that most times presumed as unpaid routine family work.[27]

Tourist visas edit

In 2019, 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. Previously, visas could only be obtained from Pakistani embassies abroad.[28]

Tourism by province and territory edit

Pakistan is subdivided into provinces Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh; the federal territory Islamabad Capital Territory; and autonomous regions Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.[29]

Gilgit-Baltistan edit

 
Central Karakoram National Park
 
Babusar Top in Lulusar & Dudipatsar National Park.

Gilgit-Baltistan includes some of the highest peaks in the world, including K2, the world's second-highest peak. Gilgit Baltistan's landscape includes mountains, lakes, glaciers and valleys. The province is also visited for its landmarks, culture, history and people.[30] K2 Basecamp, Deosai, Naltar, Fairy Meadows Bagrot Valley and Hushe valley are common tourist destinations in the province.[31]

Balochistan edit

Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by area, constituting approximately 43% of the country. Balochistan is home to one of the oldest Neolithic (7000 BC to c. 2500 BC) sites in archaeology. Mehrgarh and Nausharo was an ancient city that is linked to the Indus Valley civilization. Ancient sites dating back 800 years are the Nausherwani tombs at Qila Ladgasht. There was an ancient port at the site of Oraea that was used during the Hellenistic civilisation.[32]

 
Waterfalls at Hingol National Park

Quetta is the provincial capital of Balochistan. Sites of interest include the protected Hazarganji-Chiltan National Park, Hanna Lake, Quetta Geological Museum, Balochistan Arts Council Library, Quetta Archaeological Museum and Command and Staff College Museum. The Quaid-e-Azam Residency is in the city of Ziarat "famous for having the world's largest and oldest juniper forests". Sibi is an important historical city in which the Jirga Hall has a collection of pieces that were found at the archaeological sites of Mehrgarh, Nasshero and Pirak. The annual Sibi Festival includes a Horse and Cattle Show.[33]

The province includes several mountain passes. The Bolan Pass was the main entrance to the provincial city of Quetta; others include Lak Pass, Khojak Pass and Harnai Pass. The Balochistan coastline extends from the boundary of Sindh province to the Iranian border, measuring over 750 km (470 miles). The city of Gwadar has the largest port in the province and is based near the ancient area of Makran. Pasni is a medium-sized town that is known for fishing. Along the Makran Coastal Highway, there are several rock formations, as well as Kund Malir and the Hingol National Park.

Sindh edit

 
The Great Bath, at Archaeological ruins of Moenjodaro, Sindh, Pakistan. One of the oldest civilisations in the world

Sindh is located in south-eastern Pakistan. The province is known for its religious heritage and rapid urbanisation and was home to the ancient Indus Valley civilisation. Mohenjo-daro near the city of Larkana was one of the largest city-settlements in South Asia and is an official UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Chaukhandi tombs are another example of ancient Sindhi and Balochi heritage located near the town of Landi. Another ancient city Aror is located near the city of Sukkur. Kahu-Jo-Darro is an ancient Buddhist archaeological site near Mirpurkhas where a Buddhist stupa was excavated.

The first arrival of Islam in South Asia took place in Karachi. A number of sites within the province have led archaeologists to suggest this. Makli Hill is one of the largest necropolises in the world and is home to a number of ancient tombs and graves of Islamic dynasties. The Talpur Mirs of Hyderabad also left a number of sites including, Tombs of Talpur Mirs, Faiz Mahal in Khairpur, Qasim Fort, Pacco Qillo and the Kot Diji Fort in Kot Diji; and the Ranikot Fort was built during the Islam invasion. Sindh has a number of cultural shrines and mausoleums including Thatta, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, Lal Shahbaz Qalander, Shahjahan Mosque, Mazar-e-Quaid, Minar-e-Mir Masum Shah, Bhambore and Garhi Khuda Bakhsh.

 
Shah Jahan Mosque, Thatta

Karachi is the provincial capital of the province and largest city of Pakistan. It is home to the founder of the nation Mohammad Ali Jinnah, whose tomb at Mazar-e-Quaid is the most iconic mausoleum in Pakistan. The Port of Karachi is the country's largest post followed by the second largest, Port Qasim. The city has a number of cultural sites including Mohatta Palace, National Museum of Pakistan, Empress Market, Frere Hall, Jehangir Kothari Parade, Karachi Municipal Corporation Building and the Hindu Gymkhana. There are several beaches within the city, some of the most famous are Clifton Beach, French Beach, Sandspit Beach and Manora Island.

The province forms the basin of the Indus River and has a number of lakes, including Keenjhar Lake, Manchar Lake and Bakri Waro Lake. Kirthar National Park is a protected reserve for several wildlife species. The Thar Desert is also located in the province which adjoins Punjab and India. The Great Rann of Kutch is a protected wetland site in the province, which has two wildlife sanctuaries; the Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary and the Nara Desert Wildlife Sanctuary. The Sukkur Barrage was built to alleviate famines caused by lack of rain.

Port Grand Food and Entertainment Complex is a recreational area in the centre of Karachi that was built along the waterfront of the 19th-century Native Jetty Bridge. The complex is expected to attract up to 5,000 visitors a day and is a major hub of shopping, dining, cultural and coastal recreational activities. Port Grand is located on Napier Mole Bridge, which is historically significant to the city, and the 19th-century Native Jetty Bridge.[34]

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa edit

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is located in the north-west region of Pakistan and is popular with adventurers and explorers. The province has a varied landscape ranging from rugged mountains, valleys, hills and farms. There are a number of Buddhist archaeological sites from the Gandhara civilisation such as Takht Bhai and Pushkalavati, and other Buddhist and Hindu archaeological sites including Bala Hisar Fort, Butkara Stupa, Kanishka stupa, Chakdara, Panjkora Valley and Sehri Bahlol.

The province's capital city is Peshawar, which is home to a number of sites including Bala Hisar Fort, Peshawar Museum, archaeological site of Gor Khuttree, Mohabbat Khan Mosque, old city of Sethi Mohallah, Jamrud Fort, the Sphola Stupa and the market at Qissa Khwani Bazaar. The city Dera Ismail Khan is known as the entrance into the province from Punjab and Balochistan, and for its Hindu ruins at Kafir Kot. Mardan city has Buddhist ruins at Shahbaz Garhi. In the north of the province is the Swat valley One of the most important cities in the province is Mansehra, which is a major stop for tourists setting out to the Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir. The city is connected by the Karakoram Highway, which ends in China. Along the route, there are several stops including the Kaghan Valley, Balakot, Naran, Shogran, Lake Saiful Mulook and Babusar Top. There are also several other sites that attract a large number of tourists every year including Ayubia, Batkhela, Chakdara, Saidu Sharif, Kalam Valley and Hindu Kush mountain range in Chitral.[35]

Several mountain passes run through the province. One of the most famous is the Khyber Pass, which links Afghanistan with Pakistan. The trade route sees a large number of trucks and lorries transporting goods in and out of the region. The Babusar Pass connects Thak Nala with Chilas on the Karakorum Highway. The Lowari Pass connects Chitral with Dir via the Lowari Tunnel. The highest mountain pass in Pakistan is the Shandur Pass, which connects Chitral to Gilgit and is known as the "Roof of the World". The pass is the centre of the Hindukush, Pamir and Karakoram ranges.

Punjab edit

Punjab is the second-largest province in Pakistan. It is known for its ancient cultural heritage and its religious diversity. The Indus Valley civilisation once ruled the region and a significant archaeological find was discovered at the ancient city of Harrapa. The Gandhara civilisation was also dominant at the site of Taxila in the north of Punjab. Several other civilisations such as Greeks, Central Asians and Persians ruled Punjab, leaving a number of sites that still exist today. Islam arrived in the region during the rule of the Umayyad Caliphate followed by the Ghaznavids. The Mughals took control of the region and ruled its land for several centuries. The Mughal heritage remained strong in Punjab with a large number of forts, tombs and monuments sintact today. The Durrani Empire ruled Punjab after the fall of the Mughal Empire for a short period following the rise of the Sikh Empire. The strong control of the Sikhs also left a number of sites that have remained intact throughout Punjab. The British Raj took control of the region until the independence.

 
Rohtas Fort, a UNESCO world heritage site, was built upon a hill overlooking the Pothohar Plateau.

Tourism in Punjab is regulated by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab.[36] The province has a number of large cosmopolitan cities, including the provincial capital Lahore. Major visitor attractions there include Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens, which are now recognised World Heritage Sites. The Walled City of Lahore, Badshahi Mosque, Wazir Khan Mosque, Tomb of Jahangir and Nur Jahan, Tomb of Asaf Khan, Chauburji and other major sites are visited by tourists each year.

Rawalpindi is a famous hill station stop for tourists.[37] The Pharwala Fort, which was built by an ancient Hindu civilisation, is on the outskirts of the city. The city of Sheikhupura also has a number of sites from the Mughal Empire, including the World Heritage-listed Rohtas Fort near Jhelum. The Katasraj temple in the city of Chakwal is a major destination for Hindu devotees. The Khewra Salt Mines is one of the oldest mines in South Asia. Faisalabad's clock tower and eight bazaars were designed to represent the Union Jack.[38]

 
Noor Mahal, Bahawalpur

The province's southward is arid. Multan is known for its mausoleums of saints and Sufi pirs. The Multan Museum and Nuagaza tombs are significant attractions in the city. The city of Bahawalpur is located near the Cholistan and Thar deserts. Derawar Fort in the Cholistan Desert is the site for the annual Cholistan Jeep Rally. The city is also near the ancient site of Uch Sharif which was once a Delhi Sultanate stronghold. The Noor Mahal, Sadiq Ghar Palace and Darbar Mall were built during the reign of the Nawabs. The Lal Suhanra National Park is a major zoological garden on the outskirts of the city.

Azad Kashmir edit

Azad Kashmir is situated in the northern part of the country. The northern part of Azad Jammu and Kashmir encompasses the lower part of the Himalayas, including Jamgarh Peak 4,734 metres (15,531 ft). Sarwali Peak in the Neelum Valley is the highest peak in the province. Ganga Choti is a peak in Bagh.[39] The province is fertile, green and mountainous.[40]

Islamabad Capital Territory edit

Islamabad, Pakistan's capital city, is located on the Pothohar Plateau in the north-eastern part of the country between Rawalpindi District and the Margalla Hills National Park to the north. The region has historically been a part of the crossroads of [Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the Margalla Pass acting as the gateway between the two regions. Faisal Mosque (the largest mosque in South Asia, Margalla Hills National Park, Daman-i-Koh, Pakistan Monument, Rawal Lake, Simli Lake and Fatima Jinnah Park are among the tourist attractions in the territory.[41][42] It is ranked as the second most-beautiful capital city in the world.[43]

UNESCO World Heritage Sites edit

The table lists information about each World Heritage Site in Pakistan.

Name: as listed by the World Heritage Committee
Region: one of the 8 administrative units of Pakistan
Period: time period of significance, typically of construction
UNESCO data: the site's reference number; the year the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List; the criteria it was listed under: criteria (i) through (vi) are cultural, while (vii) through (x) are natural; meeting both criteria are categorized as "mixed sites"
Description: brief description of the site
Name Image Region Period UNESCO data Description Ref(s)
Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro   Sindh, Pakistan 27°19′45″N 68°8′20″E / 27.32917°N 68.13889°E / 27.32917; 68.13889 (Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro) 26th century BC to 19th century BC 138; 1980; ii, iii Moenjodaro is an archaeological site located on the right bank of the Indus River in Larkana District of Sindh. Dating back to the beginning of third millennium BC, the 5000-year-old city was one of the largest and earliest urbanized settlements in South Asia. The ruins were first discovered in 1922 and major excavations were carried out in the 1930s, however after 1965 further excavations were banned due to weathering and disintegration. Only one-third of the site has been revealed so far and site conservation works have been on-going since then. [44]
Taxila   near modern Taxila, in Punjab, Pakistan
33°46′45″N 72°53′15″E / 33.77917°N 72.88750°E / 33.77917; 72.88750 (Taxila) 		5th century BC to second century AD 139; 1980; iii, vi Taxila is an archaeological site located in the Rawalpindi District, 30 km northwest of Islamabad. The city dates back to the Gandhara period and contains the ruins of the Gandhāran city of Takṣaśilā which was an important Hindu and Buddhist centre, and is still considered a place of religious and historical sanctity in those traditions. [45]
Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol   Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan 34°19′15″N 71°56′45″E / 34.32083°N 71.94583°E / 34.32083; 71.94583 (Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol) 1st century 140; 1980; iv Takht-i-Bahi, meaning spring throne, is a Buddhist monastic complex dating to the first century BC located on top of a 152 m high hill. The ruins are located about 16 km from Mardan and 80 km from Peshawar. Sahr-i-Bahlol is a small fortified city, dating from the same era, located near Takht-i-Bahi. The historical complex is a complete Buddhist monastery consisting of four main groups; the Court of Stupas, a monastic complex, a temple complex, and a tantric monastic complex. [46]
Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore   Punjab, Pakistan 31°35′25″N 74°18′35″E / 31.59028°N 74.30972°E / 31.59028; 74.30972 (Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore) 1556 171; 1981; i, ii, iii The Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore are two distinct royal complexes from the Mughal era. The Fort is located at the northwest corner of the Walled City of Lahore and has been destroyed and rebuilt several times during its history. The Shalamar Gardens are example of Mughal Gardens which were constructed by the emperor Shah Jahan in 1642. The gardens are influenced by Persian and Islamic traditions and cover 16 hectares of land area. [47]
Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta   Sindh, Pakistan 24°46′0″N 67°54′0″E / 24.76667°N 67.90000°E / 24.76667; 67.90000 (Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta) 14th century to 18th century 143; 1981; iii Makli is a necropolis in the archaeological city of Thatta dating back to the 14th century. The monuments and mausoleums in Makli are built from high quality stone, brick, and glazed tiles representing the civilization of Sindh of the time. Tombs of famous saints and rulers including Jam Nizamuddin II are still preserved and are evidence of Hindu, Mughal, and Islamic architecture. [48]
Rohtas Fort   Punjab, Pakistan 32°57′45″N 73°35′20″E / 32.96250°N 73.58889°E / 32.96250; 73.58889 (Rohtas Fort) 1541 586; 1997; ii, iv Rohtas Fort is a garrison fort built by Sher Shah Suri, located about 16 km from Jhelum in Punjab, Pakistan. The fort is an exceptional example of Islamic military architecture, integrating artistic traditions from Turkey and the Indian subcontinent. It was built at a strategic location on a small hill alongside Kahan River to control the Ghakkars. Its name is derived from Rohtasgarh, the site of Sher Shah's victory in 1539 over a Hindu ruler. [49]

Tentative list edit

 
Badshahi Mosque in Punjab
 
Wazir Khan Mosque in Punjab
 
Chaukhandi Tombs in Sindh
 
Deosai Plains in Gilgit-Baltistan

In 2004, the Ministry of Tourism pushed forward for new sites in Pakistan to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In total, 26 sites are awaiting to be categorised as of 2016 which include:[50][51]

Other landmarks edit

 
Mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah (who was the founder of Pakistan) in Karachi
 
Noor Mahal in Punjab
 
Khaplu Palace in Khaplu

Other landmarks and structures have not yet made the UNESCO Tentative List. Long before the creation of Pakistan after its partition from India in 1947, there existed diverse cultures and religions in the undivided India. India was the centre of various wars that led to several dynasties and tribes ruling its lands. They left behind landmarks, some of which have become national icons in Pakistan now whilst others need the attention of concerned authorities. Some of these include:

Post-independence Pakistan retained its heritage by constructing sites to commemorate its independence by blending styles and influences from the past. Some of these include:

Tourism under Prime Minister Imran Khan edit

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan planned to boost tourism to create millions of jobs.[52] In his first television address to the nation, he said; "Pakistan has huge tourism potential. We will promote tourism to strengthen the economy".[52] The tourism industry in Pakistan has witnessed a boom as law and order has improved across the country in the last five years. The country of 235 million is known for its hospitality globally.

Military operations launched by Pakistan armed forces during 2013–2017 against militants wiped out terrorism and militancy across the country, especially in northern areas, paving the way for the revival of tourism. The Government of Pakistan has also eased the country's visa policy, which has played a key role in attracting a large number of foreign tourists.[52] "We are improving processes to issue tourist visas, in particular for groups and champion initiatives, which strengthen our visa on arrival program and eliminate NoC condition for high potential tourist destinations besides providing four-star accommodation at affordable cost", said Fawad Chaudhry, a minister in government.[52] He also said; "peace had been restored and the local and foreign tourists were coming in large numbers to visit the scenic places and heritage sites".[53]

The Imran Khan government organised the Pakistan Tourism Summit, which occurred on 2 and 3 April 2019 at Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad, and was attended by Prime Minister Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Shehryar Afridi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, and some well-known international bloggers, who spoke about their experiences during the panel discussion and answered questions from the participants.[54] Due to these measures, 1.9 million tourists visited Pakistan in 2018 and as of 2020, tourism in the country has increased by more than 300%.[3]

List of tourist regions and sites edit

 
Top-five tourist destinations

In October 2006, The Guardian released what it described as "The top five tourist sites in Pakistan".[55] Pakistan was ranked 47 out of 200 countries in an analysis of the World Travel and Tourism Council's (WTTC) growth figures by Lovehomeswap.com,[56] which said, "If the country becomes more peaceful, visitor numbers are predicted to rise".[57][58]

Rank Location
1 Lahore
2 Taxila
3 The Karakoram Highway
4 Karimabad
5 Kumrat Valley
6 Hazara

Ski resorts and areas edit

Valleys edit

Lakes edit

Waterfalls edit

National Parks edit

Data edit

Arrivals by year edit

1990s edit

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Tourist visitors[59] - - - - 383,000 378,000 369,000 375,000 429,000 432,000

2000s edit

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009
Tourist visitors 557,000 500,000 498,000 501,000 648,000 798,000 898,000 840,000 823,000 855,000

2010s edit

2010 2011 2012 2013[60] 2014[60] 2015[61] 2016[60] 2017[62][63] 2018[64]
Tourist visitors 907,000 1,161,000 966,000 565,212 530,000 563,400 965,498 1,750,000 1,900,035
Country 2021 2020 2019
  Afghanistan 719,387 748,493 2,138,784
  United Kingdom 149,986 244,612 484,744
  United States 108,744 106,847 211,338
  Iran 44,270 37,693 62,686
  Canada 34,315 48,232 98,159
  China 25,655 33,820 108,608
  Philippines 20,749 27,382 29,176
  Germany 14,366 15,096 33,087
  India 13,243 45,176 75,315
  Italy 10,955 10,116 20,565
  Spain 8,732 9,016 14,365
  France 8,424 8,489 17,808
  Norway 7,005 8,268 21,188
  Ukraine 6,216 6,992 6,003
  Bahrain 6,182 5,303 11,780
  Netherlands 5,964 6,416 13,231
  Turkey 5,899 7,005 10,680
  Belgium 5,134 4,094 8,867
  Denmark 4,028 3,661 9,291
  Sweden 3,539 3,380 7,376
  Ireland 3,337 4,425 9,849
  Russia 2,892 2,973 4,242
  Australia 2,857 9,949 33,504
  Myanmar 2,851 3,754 3,906
  South Africa 2,468 3,854 8,774
  Saudi Arabia 2,449 2,847 8,840
  South Korea 2,257 2,998 7,770
  Oman 2,281 3,362 8,723
  Sri Lanka 2,069 2,844 5,471
  Indonesia 1,967 2,396 4,669
  Macau 1,633 1,411 3,696
  Thailand 1,609 1,192 4,880
  Portugal 1,479 1,873 3,194
  Bangladesh 1,387 2,188 3,796
   Switzerland 1,363 1,427 3,383
  Poland 1,323 1,371 2,501
  Austria 1,321 1,238 2,962
  Japan 1,298 2,291 10,047
  Egypt 1,222 1,283 2,910
  Romania 1,153 1,607 1,900
  United Arab Emirates 1,043 2,121 3,650
  Greece 966 1,158 1,612
  Syria 802 681 606
  Nigeria 801 572 1,179
  Mozambique 621 669 1,438
  Kenya 580 667 1,705
  Finland 571 582 1,190
  Vietnam 550 781 1,113
  Jordan 535 715 2,319
  Malaysia 495 2,232 8,679
    Nepal 480 661 1,585
  Tanzania 453 552 980
  Qatar 381 469 1,347
  New Zealand 363 1,039 3,116
  Iraq 336 371 778
  Morocco 302 452 900
  Kazakhstan 301 285 566
  Singapore 286 730 3,584
  Bulgaria 280 515 793
  Yemen 271 268 752
  Hungary 258 267 686
  Azerbaijan 249 233 522
  Czech Republic 247 229 678
  Ethiopia 234 281 474
  Sudan 207 246 748
  Lebanon 188 309 799
  Brazil 177 320 666
  Mexico 134 140 321
  Lithuania 122 228 420
  Taiwan 111 358 1,081
  Slovakia 93 172 308
  Mauritius 86 377 1,023
  Cambodia 5 29 181

Gallery edit

Gilgit Baltistan edit

Balochistan edit

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa edit

Punjab edit

Sindh edit

Azad Kashmir edit

Islamabad Capital Territory edit

Visa policy of Pakistan edit

 
Visa policy of Pakistan
  Pakistan
  Visa-free entry; eligible for all electronic visas
  Electronic Travel Authorization for visa on arrival for tourism and business purposes; online visa application eligible
  Electronic Travel Authorization for visa on arrival for business purposes only; online visa application eligible
  Online visa application only
  Visa required in advance

Visitors to Pakistan typically must obtain a visa from one of the Pakistani diplomatic missions.

Indians are only eligible for business, pilgrim or Visitor Visas to Pakistan. The pilgrim VISA allows Indians to visit 15 sites in Pakistan for religious tourism – they will be given a visitor visa. The Visitor Visa is granted if you have close family members or friends in Pakistan and you can only visit a maximum of 5 cities for 3 months.[65]

See also edit

References edit

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  2. ^ a b "Pakistan Ranked 'The Best Holiday Destination' For 2020 By Leading Travel Magazine". eurasiantimes.com. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Is Pakistan safe in 2020? All you need to know". Against the Compass. 11 November 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Countries eligible for Pakistan Online Visa". Pakistan Online Visa System. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  5. ^ "List of Countries for Visa on Arrival(Tourist)". Pakistan Online Visa System. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  6. ^ Noor, Sadia (9 August 2019). "Foreign travel vloggers show the magnificent natural beauty of Pakistan to the world". Daily Times. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  7. ^ Jamal, Sana (28 December 2017). "Pakistan tops list of world's best travel destination for 2018". GulfNews. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
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  10. ^ Ahmed, Amin (9 April 2017). "Pakistan improves ranking on tourism competitiveness index". Dawn.
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  12. ^ "Tourism to contribute over Rs1 trillion by 2025". The Express Tribune. 17 December 2015.
  13. ^ Windsor, Antonia (17 October 2006). "Out of the rubble". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  14. ^ "Tourism Events in Pakistan in 2010". Tourism.gov.pk. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  15. ^ Junaidi, Ikram (30 September 2019). "Tourist traffic witnesses sharp increase in five years". Dawn.
  16. ^ Anwar, Shazad (27 September 2014). "Number of foreign tourists in 2014 dips by 50%". The Express Tribune. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  17. ^ "2 About 0.9m tourists visited Pakistan in 10 months". Dawn. 10 September 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  18. ^ "Pakistan – International tourism". www.indexmundi.com. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  19. ^ "Sports Activities". John Douglas. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  20. ^ "PTDC page on mountaineering". Archived from the original on 2 December 2006.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Shackle, Samira (12 November 2020). "How western travel influencers got tangled up in Pakistan's politics". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  22. ^ Attarwala, Fatima S. (15 February 2021). "Wooing Pakistan". Dawn. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Govt ends NOC requirement for foreign tourists". The Nation. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  24. ^ a b Images Staff (29 March 2021). "Thank you Katherine for letting us know what Pakistani men are really like". Images. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  25. ^ Images Staff (20 January 2019). "Pakistanis respond with outrage as women's bike rally in Peshawar gets cancelled". Images. Retrieved 30 March 2021.
  26. ^ Zehra, Ailia (9 March 2019). "How Aurat March Challenged The Deeply Ingrained Toxic Masculinity". Naya Daur.
  27. ^ a b Sayira, Tazayian; Andrews, Hazel; Ayesha, Qurat-ul-Ann (2022). The Silent and Unseen Two examples of women's restricted travel in Pakistan. Colin Michael Hall, Siamak Seyfi, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh (Ed.). [S.l.]: ROUTLEDGE. ISBN 978-1-000-62594-3. OCLC 1329422755. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  28. ^ "Pakistan announced e-visa for 175 countries, visa-on-arrival for 50 countries". Khaleej Times. 26 January 2019.
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  30. ^ Skardu, pk. "Top 10 Most beautiful places to visit in Pakistan". Skardu.pk. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  31. ^ "5 Most Beautiful Places To Visit in Gilgit Baltistan". Skardu.pk. www.skardu.pk. Retrieved 1 October 2017.
  32. ^ "Government of Balochistan: Tourist Attractions". Balochistan.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  33. ^ "Tourist Guide For Baluchistan Pakistan". Rehmananwar.blogspot.com. 1 July 1977. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  34. ^ "Good times: Port Grand finally makes a grand opening – The Express Tribune". 29 May 2011.
  35. ^ "Tourism Potential Investment Opportunities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa". Khyberpakhtunkhwa.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 14 September 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  36. ^ "Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab Official Website". Tdcp.gop.pk. 9 April 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
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  38. ^ khalid. "Tourism in Punjab, Pakistan". Vista-tourism.com. Archived from the original on 15 August 2010. Retrieved 27 September 2010.
  39. ^ "Sarwali Peak (6326 m) – Highest Peak in Kashmir (AJK)". pakistabalpine.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2015. Retrieved 14 June 2015.
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  43. ^ Junaidi, Ikram (6 July 2015). "Islamabad 'the second most beautiful capital', boasts CDA". Dawn. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  44. ^ "Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  45. ^ "Taxila". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  46. ^ "Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  47. ^ "Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  48. ^ "Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
  49. ^ "Rohtas Fort". World Heritage Sites. UNESCO. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
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  51. ^ "Sites on the Tentative List". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
  52. ^ a b c d "Under Imran Khan, Pakistan plans to boost tourism to create millions of jobs". Al Arabiya English. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
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  54. ^ Web Desk (14 April 2019). "Pakistan Tourism Summit 2019 - challenges and impact". The Financial Daily. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
  55. ^ Windsor, Antonia (17 October 2006). "Out of the rubble". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 25 May 2010.
  56. ^ "Home Exchange with Love Home Swap | House Swap Holidays". www.lovehomeswap.com.
  57. ^ "Angola and Gabon 'to become holiday hotspots'". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  58. ^ "Top 50 holiday hotspots to watch – Love Home Swap". Love Home Swap. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  59. ^ "Number of tourists arrivals in Pakistan (1995 to 2012)". worldbank.org. The World Bank.
  60. ^ a b c Saeed, Zafaryab (7 December 2018). "Number of Tourists arrival in Pakistan after 2012". The Nation. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  61. ^ "Number of foreign tourists visited Pakistan in 2015". Business Recorder. 16 March 2016.
  62. ^ Kay, Chris (27 September 2017). "As Terror Attacks Recede, Tourism in Pakistan Starts to Thrive". Bloomberg News.
  63. ^ "Foreign tourists to Pakistan more than triple since 2013". Dawn. 30 September 2017.
  64. ^ Haq, Riaz. "Pakistan's $20 Billion Tourism Industry is Booming".
  65. ^ "Can Indians Visit Pakistan? Full Pakistan/India VISA Guide". Karl Rock's Blog. 31 January 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2021.

Further reading edit

  • "Pakistan a magical tourist destination". The Korea Herald.
  • Does crime-tourism nexus hold for Pakistan? ~ Muhammad Ahad, Zaheer Anwer, Wasim Ahmad; International Journal of Emerging Markets ISSN:1746-8809, date: 21 January 2021

External links edit

 
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Pakistan.
 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tourism in Pakistan.
  • eVisa and Visa on Arrival, Government of Pakistan
  • Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan
  • Sindh Tourism Development Corporation
  • Department of Tourism, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  • Official site, Government of Balochistan
  • Department of Tourism, Government of Punjab
  • Department of Culture & Tourism, Government of Sindh
  • Department of Tourism, Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir
  • Department of Tourism, Government of Gilgit-Baltistan

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