Pakistan attracted 1.04 million tourists in 2015 : World travel & Tourism council

[Khan_21]

Pakistan is set to attract 1.7 million by 2025 . Operation Zarb e azb has done wonders to our country .

 

[Hyde]

You know it sounds hard to believe that foreign tourists were visiting Pakistan during peak time of terorrism in Pakistan but just go to any famous attraction and you get to see many foreign tourists.

I once went to Khewra Salt Mines and met with so many foreign tourists from Kenya and African countries. Then I went to Lahore and saw so many English tourists around Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila

The biggest attraction for foreign tourists are the mountainous range in my opinion and The government of Pakistan should invest more in accomodating foreign tourists at such places and also promote that region all over the world to attract foreign tourists

 

[Khan_21]

You know it sounds hard to believe that foreign tourists were visiting Pakistan during peak time of terorrism in Pakistan but just go to any famous attraction and you get to see many foreign tourists.

I once went to Khewra Salt Mines and met with so many foreign tourists from Kenya and African countries. Then I went to Lahore and saw so many English tourists around Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila

The biggest attraction for foreign tourists are the mountainous range in my opinion and The government of Pakistan should invest more in accomodating foreign tourists at such places and also promote that region all over the world to attract foreign tourists

2015 was the year that terrorism finally started to slow down . So its no surprise more people visited us .

Gilgit baltistan is unrivalled the world over for its grand mountain scenery . It attracts alot of foreign hiking community .

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Ten-fold increase in foreign tourists for Lahore Walled City

http://www.dawn.com/news/1230220

ISLAMABAD - The number of tourism visa application to Pakistan submitted by Chinese in the first half year of 2016 jumped by 37 folds, according to an industry report.



According to China daily the visa center of Ctrip, a leading online travel agency in China, said new tourism destinations are increasing as top choices of Chinese matureoutbound tourists and Pakistan is “a dark horse” this year.

http://nation.com.pk/business/31-Jul-2016/pakistan-sees-huge-jump-in-chinese-visitors

A view of the skiing slope at Malam Jabba.

Kalam valley...

A tourist learning how to ski from a local skier at Malam Jabba.

Snowfall beckons tourists to beautiful Swat

http://www.dawn.com/news/1223097/snowfall-beckons-tourists-to-beautiful-swat

 

[sparten]

The links are a bit misleading. Yes, foreign tourism has increased, however, they have in other parts combined domestic and international tourism. Unlike say Thailand or Sri Lanka, we have a very big domestic tourism market (from basically nil in those countries), that more than any is the driver.

 

[X-2.]

You know it sounds hard to believe that foreign tourists were visiting Pakistan during peak time of terorrism in Pakistan but just go to any famous attraction and you get to see many foreign tourists.

I once went to Khewra Salt Mines and met with so many foreign tourists from Kenya and African countries. Then I went to Lahore and saw so many English tourists around Badshahi Mosque and Shahi Qila

The biggest attraction for foreign tourists are the mountainous range in my opinion and The government of Pakistan should invest more in accomodating foreign tourists at such places and also promote that region all over the world to attract foreign tourists

Terrorism hype created western tourists to visit Pakistan... We need good security all across the country especially northern areas and blouchistan as well
Foreigners really like to visit hot places desert sides or mountains which they miss in west

Most of western tourists visiting africa ,safari etc
Government need to moderate the tourism ministry to higher standard and should promote and give good packages with security as basic lifting up the tourism numbers
But question is are these politicians are serious about there motherland interest ?

 

[Jackdaws]

The entire region of South Asia attracts far too less tourists than it should. I had read that just Paris attracts 20 million plus tourists annually. I don't know about Pakistan but in India - the problem is lack of decent 2 star and 3 star hotels. There are lots of luxury brands and properties and there are lots of run down hovels but that is not what the average international tourist seeks. They want clean hotels with good service and come to enjoy the locale - not the properties themselves. There is so much history, architecture and nature in the region - shame it has not been exploited to the hilt.

 

[N.Siddiqui]

The entire region of South Asia attracts far too less tourists than it should. I had read that just Paris attracts 20 million plus tourists annually. I don't know about Pakistan but in India - the problem is lack of decent 2 star and 3 star hotels. There are lots of luxury brands and properties and there are lots of run down hovels but that is not what the average international tourist seeks. They want clean hotels with good service and come to enjoy the locale - not the properties themselves. There is so much history, architecture and nature in the region - shame it has not been exploited to the hilt.

That is true, France ranks number one as tourist destination for world travelers. Spain is number two. The region where the country is located is also important. France and Italy, Spain is all surrounded by wealthy European nations and with EU and no restrictions on borders and open visa policies, this is bound to happen.

India and Pakistan can see a mushroom growth of visitors from both countries if the current impasse and bad situation at the borders improves and political, bilateral situation improves. But for that both countries need to work on improving the trust deficit and look at things with a fresh perspective...no hindsight but a lot of foresight.

 

[Khan_21]

The entire region of South Asia attracts far too less tourists than it should. I had read that just Paris attracts 20 million plus tourists annually. I don't know about Pakistan but in India - the problem is lack of decent 2 star and 3 star hotels. There are lots of luxury brands and properties and there are lots of run down hovels but that is not what the average international tourist seeks. They want clean hotels with good service and come to enjoy the locale - not the properties themselves. There is so much history, architecture and nature in the region - shame it has not been exploited to the hilt.

Most foreign tourists come to Pakistan for Mountain scenery . Now the difference in Europe and Pakistan is most of the mountain resorts and road are located at low altitudes in Europe. In Pakistan the beautiful resorts and lakes are at 10-15k feet above sea level which makes it difficult to build infrastructure .

For example this lake is located at 13k above sea level . If it were this high in europe i am not sure even if they could build the necessary infrastructure for such high altitudes .

Most european resorts are at 5-6k above sea level which makes it easy to build hotels and roads .

 

[N.Siddiqui]

The links are a bit misleading. Yes, foreign tourism has increased, however, they have in other parts combined domestic and international tourism. Unlike say Thailand or Sri Lanka, we have a very big domestic tourism market (from basically nil in those countries), that more than any is the driver.

The report is not misleading and is factually correct...no domestic tourism figures are included, it's all international travelers figures which are shown here. But, why is it so, because a lot of foreign counted tourists are actually NRP's including Amercians of Pakistan origin, UK people of Pakistani roots now British citizens, who visits Pakistan on a regular basis visiting their relatives, their parents, their wedding ceremonies...so on and so forth.

But the fact is there is a big increase in actual foreign tourists to Pakistan like a 37 fold increase in Chinese visitors to Pakistan, an increase in foreigners visiting Lahore heritage sites. An increase in business related travel.

Hotels occupancy rates tells the story, Lahore and Islamabad five and four starts hotels has occupancy rates in excess of 90%. Islamabad serena and marriott remains always fully occupied. Karachi hotels has now better occupancy rates with daily exhibitions in expo center and other business related activities.

 

[Shot-Caller]

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Pakistan is set to attract 1.7 million by 2025 . Operation Zarb e azb has done wonders to our country .

Hey tag that silly indian who was jumping up n down about 5000 tourists visiting Pakistan in 2015.

 

[sparten]

The report is not misleading and is factually correct...no domestic tourism figures are included, it's all international travelers figures which are shown here. But, why is it so, because a lot of foreign counted tourists are actually NRP's including Amercians of Pakistan origin, UK people of Pakistani roots now British citizens, who visits Pakistan on a regular basis visiting their relatives, their parents, their wedding ceremonies...so on and so forth.

But the fact is there is a big increase in actual foreign tourists to Pakistan like a 37 fold increase in Chinese visitors to Pakistan, an increase in foreigners visiting Lahore heritage sites. An increase in business related travel.

Hotels occupancy rates tells the story, Lahore and Islamabad five and our starts hotels has occupancy rates in excess of 90%. Islamabad serena and marriott remains always fully occupied. Karachi hotels has now better occupancy rates with daily exhibitions in expo center and other business related activities.

Oversea's Pakistanis if you please(NRI is the Indian term) and no Overseas Pakistanis are **not** counted as tourists. If you have a Pakistan Origin Card,or have an endorsed Visa from the embassy, its not counted as such.

 

[Jackdaws]

Most foreign tourists come to Pakistan for Mountain scenery . Now the difference in Europe and Pakistan is most of the mountain resorts and road are located at low altitudes in Europe. In Pakistan the beautiful resorts and lakes are at 10-15k feet above sea level which makes it difficult to build infrastructure .

For example this lake is located at 13k above sea level . If it were this high in europe i am not sure even if they could build the necessary infrastructure for such high altitudes .

Most european resorts are at 5-6k above sea level which makes it easy to build hotels and roads .

Those a beautiful pictures. I can think of Aspen, Zermatt, Saas Fee which are in the height range you mentioned. In India I have been to Auli which is about 10,000 feet. While unbelievably beautiful with a 360 Degree view of the Himalayas - getting there was nothing short of a nightmare. The roads were crap - I was just thankful to get there and back in one piece. And once am there, they tell me - they can't serve me alcohol "legally". Under the table, of course it was available.

 

[Khan_21]

Those a beautiful pictures. I can think of Aspen, Zermatt, Saas Fee which are in the height range you mentioned. In India I have been to Auli which is about 10,000 feet. While unbelievably beautiful with a 360 Degree view of the Himalayas - getting there was nothing short of a nightmare. The roads were crap - I was just thankful to get there and back in one piece. And once am there, they tell me - they can't serve me alcohol "legally". Under the table, of course it was available.

Saas fee , zermatt and almost all the resorts in alps are 5000-8000 range . Makes it easier for them to built roads. Even here in Pakistan we have nice metalled roads to 8000-9000 feet . But anything above 10000 is not going to be smooth sailing .

With the exception of Karakoram Highway most roads above 10k are not upto the required standards. Thats sad because some of the most beautiful valleys in the country are the remote ones .

Taobat , Neelam Valley ( can only go by 4×4 jeep )

Shangrila ( 55 min flight from Islamabad , 24 hours by road )

Fairy meadows ( 14000 above sea level and only accessible by 4×4 )

The scenery is on a much grander scale than the alps or canadian rockies we just have to make it more easier for tourists to travel at such high altitudes .

 

[N.Siddiqui]

Here is a stunning video made by Swat Tourism KPK, Pakistan in collaboration with USAID.

Documentary_Journeys to the Ends of the Earth, Pakistan

Another good quality informative documentary about Pakistan, encompassing a large segment.