With recent UK Foreign Office travel advice for visiting Pakistan improving, there is increasing confidence that the country is set to be a prime spot for tourism. Also, CPIC are continuing their push with its Changing Perceptions campaign by premiering its much anticipated third tour video soon. CPIC aim to portray Pakistan as a country of peace and progress which is happening under the CPEC revolution.
The Pakistan government’s efforts to boost tourism in the country have already begun to yield results as Pakistan emerged as one of the best tourist destinations for 2020. The recent steps taken for the development of the Gwadar region and the area around it has left travellers in a thrill of finally having a great beach destination in Pakistan. The breathtaking valleys and hills are attracting adventurous travellers.
Lauded in well-known US travel and business magazines like Traveller by Condè Nast and Forbes, the boost in Pakistan tourism industry can employ the residents and is also expected to improve the economy of the country.
According to the PTDC (Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation), Pakistan has witnessed a significant increase of more than 70 per cent in tourism during the year 2018 as compared to 2017, mainly due to multiple initiatives by the government to enhance the tourism industry of the country, especially improved security situation.
Here’s Why!
The breath-taking beauty and the exotic mix of the untapped and untamed landscapes, cultural diversity, high mountain peaks, and architectural spectacles steeped in vibrant history dating back to the Mughal empire and the mouth-watering delicious food, all of this make Pakistan the perfect tourist destination.
Foreign travellers visiting Pakistan for the first time have so much to explore. The immense natural beauty the country possesses, and the exceptional service and hospitality of the locals.
Wherever you travel in the country, nothing but kindness, love, respect and peace is offered. These and the natural beauty in the region are the primary reasons why tourists are visiting Pakistan in increased numbers year on year.
The northern mountainous region offers incredibly beautiful and staggering landscape spectacle of Pakistan, especially when you travel around the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The hilly areas provide a beautiful scenic view from the valleys during the sunrise.
The Karakoram Mountains range and the Himalayas are world-famous tourist spot for trekking, with the reputation of being one of the most adventurous treks in the world. The western Himalayan system splits into three distinct ranges, which are, from south to north, the Pir Panjal Range, the Zaskar Range, and the Ladakh Range.
From the Khunjerab Pass, which is at 16,000 feet, to all the way down to Karachi at sea level, there are several deserts, mountain valleys and some of the most rugged, jagged terrains and glaciers can be seen in between.
Tourists can follow in TV Presenter, Michael Palin, past footsteps while traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo ground. Tourists can also meet with the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush culture, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery.
The Historical Ruins Mohenjo-Daro
Archaeology enthusiasts will have a hard time missing the chance to visit Mohenjo-Daro in Sindh, an ancient site dating back to 2500 BCE. After comprehensive study and excavation of the area, researchers found out that these mounds and architectural remains were a part of the Indus Valley Civilisation, a contemporary of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1980 and can be reached via public bus or weekly flights from Karachi.
The country has six UNESCO World Heritage sites and 26 more sites could become listed. Cultural site visits by foreign tourists more than doubled from 7,028 in 2017 to 18,041 in 2018, in a report conducted by pollsters, Gallup.
The Food Culture
The Pakistani cuisine can pamper your taste buds while taking you on a cultural extravaganza. Geographical and cultural differences produce an incredible amalgamation of a delicious cuisine which you have to taste to believe. Be it the kebabs of Pashtoon or the seafood of the Sindh; the food has a distinct taste which every food fan needs to experience.
The Royal Visit
The royal visit always brings the limelight to the destination they ought to visit. With the recent 2019 tour of Britain’s Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate, the inbound tourism in Pakistan is expected to surge. A London-based travel company Wild Frontiers has also listed Pakistan among its top travel destinations for the year 2020. The visit proved that even royalty can travel safely in today’s Pakistan.
The ease of getting tourist visa-on-arrival
Apply for a tourist visa-on-arrival. An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is provided to the tourists, which helps them travel within Pakistan with ease. You need to submit this application at least 48-72 hours before your travel for hassle free visa approval.
Over the past couple of years, the incumbent government has launched a slew of initiatives to make travelling to Pakistan much easier. The government has also ensured that the previously-ignored regions are developed into some of the major tourist spots in the country. This has encouraged foreign tourists across the world to visit the beautiful country and experience its vibrant and diverse culture. Moreover, the security conditions in Pakistan have significantly advanced over the past few years for tourist safety.