Tourism in Pakistan - Challenges

Challenges

The July 2010 floods that caused an estimated 22 million persons to become homeless in Pakistan also collapsed Tourism Industry in the country, which was already becoming fragile due to the deteriorating state of law and order in the country. Swat Valley that geared up domestic tourism after a lull 2 years due to terrorism again faced total disaster due to heavy rainfalls and floods. Around 101 hotels on the bank of Swat River flushed out in floods because these hotels were constructed on the bank of the river against the law of nature and law of land. Around 277 people including 6 domestic tourist lost their lives in Swat valley. Thousands of tourists were stranded in Kalam and Bahrain areas affected by the devastating rain-triggered floods. There was no electricity in the entire district for 14 days and no road network left to evacuate tourists therefore Pakistan Army provided helicopters to airlift them to Islamabad. . All business activities and factories are lying closed in Swat.

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani visited Swat valley to examine the flood situation and directed authorities to ensure adequate food supply for flood victims and improved communication links. The Prime Minister stressed for proper connectivity of Swat valley with other parts of the country and directed the Minister for Communications to ensure early restoration of roads and bridges so as to ensure unhindered provision of relief material.

Kalam in Khybar Pakhtunkhawa Pakistan, was a popular tourist destination famous for its terrain, view and natural beauty. The worst flood in memory has wreaked havoc to the tourist facilities and left locals wandering about their future. There were only two sources of income of Kalam. One is agriculture and other is tourism, both are destroyed and seriously affected,said a resident. Kalam had some four hundred hotels and restaurants before the floods. Dozens of which have been swept away in the raging water. Most of the major hotels were either on the river bed or overlooking it from the edges of River Swat. The water swept dams, swallowed fertile land and torn down bridges effectively dividing the Valley into two.

The floods that have caused massive devastation across the country struck at a time when tourism was in full swing, especially in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan. Damages inflicted on tourism infrastructure in these areas are estimated to run in billions. Apart from claiming so many human lives, the floods took serious toll on hotels, motels, bridges, roads, houses. It rendered thousands of people jobless, who were affiliated with tourism. Gilgit Baltistan and Kaghan valley also affected by floods and rain and collapse of infrastructure. Karakuram Highway that was already blocked due to Aliabad landslide now totally shutdown for traffic. Balakot-Kaghan road is also impassable. Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) estimation indicated around 550 million $ damaged to private sector. That include postponement of confirmed tours, damage to property and transportation. ESP submitted a detail damage report to world media and recommendations how tourism industry can cope with such disaster. American movie star Angelina Jolie who helped Pakistan in 2005 earthquake again came forward to help Pakistan and visited floods hit areas on 7 September 2010. She appealed to the international community to provide aid needed to help the country recover from its worst natural disaster. 22 million people affected by the floods. The United Nations issued an appeal for $460 million in emergency funds on 11 Aug, but only $294 million, or 64 percent, has been received so far, and donations have more or less dried up in recent days.