Pakistan was the best-performing tourist destination in the first nine months of 2023, according to the World Tourism Barometer published by the WTO of the United Nations.
According to the details, Pakistan recovered 92% in tourism to pre-pandemic levels. A surge of 115% was recorded in terms of foreign tourists visiting the country. These figures indicate a remarkable growth in the tourism industry in comparison to last year.
Reports further claim that Pakistan was expected to collect Rs 1.3 billion from foreign receipts.
Managing Director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Aftab Rana said that Pakistan is resurging as one of the top tourist destinations globally.
Last year, Pakistan participated in the top six major tourism events to highlight the tourism potential of the country to prospective global audiences.
The Tourism Minister, Wasi Shah, praised the PTDC team and partners in the industry for their success. He’s hopeful for an even better performance in 2024 despite facing challenges.
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Mr. Rana commended the teamwork between PTDC, provincial tourist departments, and private sector operators. He stressed how global events play a crucial role in strengthening international partnerships.
Official figures claim nearly 9000 foreign tourists visited Gilgit Baltistan in the summer of 2023, including 2050 climbers. These foreign climbers attempted to scale the famous mountain peaks of Pakistan including K2, Masherbrum, Nanga Parbat, and Broad Peak.
This also marked the highest number of foreign tourists visiting Pakistan in two decades. The government of Gilgit Baltistan collected Rs. 40 million from permit fees to the trekkers and climbers. Meanwhile, 449,000 tourists visited Swat in 2023, including 4000 foreign tourists.
Local authorities claim that still, a lot more needs to be done like bringing ease in visa issuance, and related issues. These hurdles forced many tourists to reconsider their plans to visit Pakistan.
The visa application is not friendly as it confuses foreign trekkers and climbers. They expect the government to resolve these matters to make Pakistan a more tourism-friendly country.