Pakistan: a best holiday destination for 2020
In 2018, the Travel & Tourism (T&T) industry helped generate 10.4 percent of world gross domestic products (GDP) and a similar share of employment, and has shown enormous resilience over the last decade, international study revealed. Fueling this expansion and relative resilience is the ongoing growth of the middle-class in Asia and other parts of globe. In the coming decade, it is reported that the industry contribution to GDP is predicted to increase by about 50 percent. In light of this expansion, policy-advisors, industry leaders and other stakeholders will have to pay closer attention to T&T competitiveness to capture this rising market. While government and business actors alike would need to consider what competitiveness levers they can activate to retain or gain market share, special consideration needs to be given to sustaining tourism infrastructure, services and assets.
As numbers of business and leisure travellers increase the world over, there are also reports that improvements in competitiveness will need to be undertaken alongside careful planning for tourism management and carrying capacity of destinations. The consequences serve as a tool for policy-advisors, T&T businesses and other stakeholders to understand and advance the necessary dialogues and actions that would ensure the longevity of this critical sector.
In 2018, according to the World Tourism Organization’s statistics, the number of foreign tourist arrivals globally stood 1.4 billion, 2-year before it was expected to do so. That year also marked the 7th year in a row where the growth in tourism exports (+4 percent) exceeded the growth in merchandise exports (+3 percent). Given this rapid pace of growth, the prediction that foreign arrivals would stand 1.8 billion by 2030 may be conservative.
According to Conde Nast Traveler magazine published an article under the title ‘The best holiday destinations for 2020’ where Pakistan has been ranked on the top, meanwhile, UK, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively. Pakistan comes out on top owing to its ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions, as well as, Prince William and Kate Middleton’s visit this year. Pakistan has been put on the second top nation that ought to be visited by vacationers in 2020, The Independent newspaper vowed by giving reference of top travel planner organizations — the examination was based on the proposal of specialists for travel lovers — Pakistan was suggested by Wild Frontiers, a travel organizer. The New York based magazine goes on to praise the serene Shandur Pass, which is home to the world’s highest polo field. Visitors can also meet the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery.
The present Government of Pakistan has been keen in growing the Pakistan’s tourism industry and the attempts have bear fruits as well with inbound tourism in Pakistan witnessing a marked raise of over 70 percent during the year 2018 as against to same period previous year. According the data shared by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the number of foreigners, who visited in the country during 2018 on tourist visa stood at 17,823, which was 10,476 during 2017. Overall, as many as 60,070 foreign travel enthusiasts visited tourist attractions in Pakistan during the last 6-year, mainly to the mesmerizing places located in the northern parts of Pakistan.
[ads1]
Sources recorded that the country’s tourism industry has been stymied for the past two-decade. Sources also urged that Pakistan’s exquisite landscapes, featuring towering mountains and green spaces in the North. Boosting some of the tallest mountains in globe as the experts said that the country is ‘an almost magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid hikers. Going down, Pakistan’s cultural capital Lahore, features some of the best Mughal-era architectural masterpieces counting the sandstone 17th century Badshahi Mosque.
Statistics, moreover, showed that the Government of Pakistan has allocated Rs.1 billion for rehabilitation and upgrading of tourist spots followed through introducing apps that could make things easy for tourists. The government has also proclaimed a visa-on-arrival option for group tourists from 24 countries, counting China, Finland, Greece, the United Kingdom, United States, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France and others. Presently, more focused have been given to ‘Heritage tourism’, on the other hand, the federal government moreover looking to take the seashores of Karachi under its surveillance from the provincial government.
Naran Kaghan
The Naran Kaghan valley always tops the list of places to visit while touring northern Pakistan. The valley is replete with beautiful scenery and pleasant weather through the summer months, although it does get chilly in the winters.
Skardu
Skardu is a paradise for climbers and trekkers. The ever-flowing Indus river runs along the length of the region, and finds its path through mountains, valleys and forests.
Hunza
On the third place, we have the crimson valley of Hunza that is well known for being colourful and having a rich historical background. Hunza has so many captivating spots that they cannot all be depicted here.
Ziarat
Ziarat is also a place that should be explored. Located in the south-western province of Balochistan, and encompassed by mountains, the area is a popular tourist spot both in the summers and winters.