Are you looking to travel to any country in the near future? Do you want a country that offers breathtaking views and ethereal beauty? You’re in the right place. Pakistan is the right choice for every traveler willing to travel for serenity and comfort this year. Although Covid was hard on us all, we can assure you that Pakistan is well worth the wait. Pakistani tourism is unique.
We’re going to show you the best about Pakistani Tourism so that your trip is as thrilling as possible. This article will tell you all about the historical and religious sites that you can visit.
Pakistan is a land of beauty, adventure, and natural beauty. Pakistan is the land where pure nature reigns.
The famous activities that are popular with adventure seekers in Pakistan include trekking, skiing, boating, and rafting.
Pakistan has a rich and varied flora. The Himalayas, Karakoram, and the Hindukush range, with their beautiful alpine meadows, snow glaciers, and coniferous forests, are the most prominent.
The vast Indus plain merges into the great desert near the coast and the vast wetlands. All of these areas offer a remarkable range of wildlife and vegetation, both endemic or migratory.
Pakistan is home to ten of the 18 mammalian species. These species range from the Mediterranean Pigmy Shrew (the world’s smallest living mammal) to the blue whale (the largest mammal known), which is the blue whale.
The tourism industry in Pakistan is growing quickly. In the year 2010, Lonely Planet coined Pakistan “tourism’s ‘next big thing’ for the coming years than we care to remember”.
It is a country with a wide range of ethnicities and geographical locations. There are also many historical and cultural heritage sites.
After the government decided to eliminate No Objection Certificates for foreign tourists who wish to visit certain areas of the country, the government has helped to boost tourism.
Pakistan was ranked as The Best Holiday Destination for 2020 by a British tabloid. It was also ranked third in adventure destinations worldwide for 2020.
Tourism has increased over the past two decades as a result of the improvement in security.
Online visa services are now available for Pakistan from the Pakistani government. This includes 50 countries that receive visas on arrival.
Highly influenced travel vloggers have visited the country and shown the beautiful side to their international viewers, particularly the northern regions of Hunza or Skardu.
Statistics Of Tourism In Pakistan
According to reports, in2013: 565,212Pakistan was visited by tourists, who contributed to its success.$298 MillionThese numbers have almost risen to 80%6.6 million tourists who visited the country during 2018
Pakistan’s local tourism industry, however, is only 50 million. This includes the local tourists who travel together on weekly trips, mostly from May through August.
The United Kingdom is the country with the highest inflow of tourists from abroad to Pakistan. China, India, and the United States are close behind.
Pakistan was awarded a staggering16 billion rupees (approx. $200 millionFrom almost800,000 tourists back during 2007. There were fewer than visitors: 400,000In 2008, it brought in just8 billion rupees.
Tourism Industry in Pakistan
The current government of Pakistan is very concerned about tourism. The prime minister of Pakistan has made several statements about the importance of tourism for our country.
Many initiatives are underway to increase the number of tourists to Pakistan and to make the tourism industry more profitable.
To coordinate with other provinces and the federal cabinet as well as the private sector, to be on the same terms.
The National Tourism Coordination Board (NTCB) was established by the Government to promote national and international tourism. The NTCB is responsible:
To communicate and coordinate with international, provincial, and national organizations involved in the tourism industry.
To market and promote the country’s tourism potential.
To offer facilities and opportunities to all provinces in order for them to develop regulations regarding quality standards in the tourism industry.
To protect national interests in tourism-related international expos and other events.
To create synergies between the different regions and provinces of the country
To provide assistance to provinces so that they develop institutions in tourism sectors.
The NTCB follows technical working groups based on their plans and strategies regarding tourism in the areas they have been assigned.
A Cultural, Heritage & Archaeology Tourism Working Group
ECO Tourism Working Group
Tourism Branding & Marketing Working Group
Working Group on Regulatory & Policy Reforms
Religious Tourism Working Group
Investment Promotion Working Group
Infrastructure & Facilitation Working Group
Adventure Tourism Working Group
Trans Himalayan Jeep Rally Working Group
Tourist Destinations in Pakistan
You’ve reached the right place if you are planning to visit Pakistan but don’t know where to start or what to see in each of the various genres. These are tourist spots in Pakistan that suit different tastes:
Histories:
For historical places, the first place you should pay a visit is the Mohenjo-Daro, which is a settlement that dates back 5,000 years, situated in the Sindh region of Pakistan.
Two excavated sites are located near Taxila and date back to the Buddhist Gandhara period.
Cultural
The northern parts of Pakistan have many old ancient fortresses, towers, and other magnificent architecture.
The Chitral valley is home to the pre-Islamic Animist Kalasha group, who claimed to be the generation that created Alexander the Great’s army.
Alexander’s battle was fought in Punjab near the Jhelum River.
Lahore is considered the cultural hub of the country with many historic Mughal architectures such as the Badshahi Mosque, Shalimar Gardens, Tomb of Jahangir, and the Lahore Fort.
Nature
You can access the Karakoram Highway via the Silk Road and enjoy the ethereal beauty found in the Himalayan mountain range that has the Hindukush Pamir.
Continue the trail along the Indus River into the stunning Gilgit and Hunza Valleys.
Margalla Hills situated in Islamabad is the most famous tourist place. The Daman-e-Koh is a terraced garden with great views of the city. It’s located in the middle of these hills. There are many Islamic tombs and religious mosques throughout the country.
Some of the most famous ones are Badshahi Mosque in Lahore (one of the largest mosques in the world, and a perfect example of Moghul architecture), then is the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad, etc.
The mausoleums, mosques, and other attractions of Thatta in the Sindh region are well-known.
Thermal:
The hot springs and fish rivers of Chitral, located in the Hindu Kush Mountains, are well-known.
Beach:
Clifton beach of Karachi is one of the largest and most beautiful beaches in all of Asia.
Because of the differences between the Western conception of beaches and a country’s Islamic cultural traditions, Pakistan almost lost its chance to develop beach tourism.
Winter Sports:
Pakistan boasts the 5 highest mountains in the world, as well as large glaciers.
Trekking is very popular in the northern regions, including Gilgit and Skardu. Malam Jabba resort located in the Karakoram Range has many good facilities including skiing facilities.
Outdoor Activities:
Rafting on water?Boating?FishingAndcanoeingThey is extremely popular in the rivers and lakes around Rawal Lake.
Cricket is the most popular and highly regarded game in the country. It is easy to watch matches in cricket. In the northern regions, particularly in Chitral and Gilgit, polo is very popular.
Shopping:
Shopping in Pakistan can be fun and very unique. Pakistani shops are known for their exquisite handicrafts. The country boasts beautiful hand-woven carpets, marble designs, and copper and brassware.
Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad all have great markets (called Bazars), as well as large shopping malls. We also have an article about the top 10 shopping sites in Pakistan.
Pakistan is More Than an Adventure
Nearly all of Pakistan asserts that “The north is the obsession of the entire world”But there’s more to our country than just adventures tourism.
It is a country rich in history and geography, especially its iconic peaks.
Pakistan has everything including deserts, lakes, forests, and a stretchable 700 miles of coastline, from which the PTI led government hopes to develop beaches of international standards.
Pakistan boasts a rich history tourism industry, which includes the Mohenjo-Daro, a 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilization.
Next comes religious tourism, which includes sacred sites of every religion, including Sikhism and Sufism.
“Then, there is the mountain tourism in Pakistan that has nearly half of the peaks above 24,000 feet,” Imran Khan stated at Davos. It is a place that provides jobs and helps to increase the growth rate.
Pakistan has a total of six UNESCO World Heritage sites and 26 more upcoming on a tentative list. The total number of international tourists to our cultural sites doubled from 7,028 in 2017 to 18,041 in 2018, this is according to a report by Gallup Pakistan.
It is known for its friendly people and warm hospitality.
“There are two main reasons why I want to return to Pakistan. They are its people and its places. It’s easy to interact with locals in this country.” Reynolds said.
“Pakistanis are not afraid to have a conversation. English is everywhere.”
Even a few minutes of conversation can lead to an invitation to their homes for chai or allowing me to stay in their home more often than I could ever have hoped.
Pakistan Tourism Companies
Tourist companies are a type of company that offers travel services to people who visit places outside of their home area for less than one year. This is for leisure, business, or other reasons.
They provide services in areas such as accommodation, transport, food and drink, travel agencies, tour operators, and tourist entertainment. These are some of the top tourism companies in Pakistan:
Crossroads Adventure.
Hunza Explorers.
Oasis Overland
Exploria.
Adventure tours around the world
A large minority
Madventure.
How to Sustain Tourism in Pakistan
There is no denying that Pakistan has seen a significant increase in tourism. However, there are still some negative aspects to this growth.
Our country still lacks infrastructure. We need better hotels at international standards and highly trained staff in hospitality.
There are also many complications with the environmental impact of tourists. Tourists from all over the world, including domestic and foreign tourists, have caused litter to accumulate at tourist spots. This is not a pleasant sight to witness and to behold in these beautiful locations.
The deforestation of some famous areas has increased as locals cut down trees to make way for more hotels and more comfortable accommodation for tourists.
“Pakistan is at an exciting point, back when it was so neglected by tourism for many years, it basically has a great opportunity to design sustainable tourism industries and achieve them.”Reynolds, an international blogger.
“If the country has a solid foundation, it will be successful in the future, and it can be an inspiration for other developing countries who are looking to boost their tourism.”
Conclusion
Pakistan is a country that continues to surprise and be unpredictable, despite many years of terror and war.
Pakistan is rich in history and culture, but you should take precautions when traveling across the country.
Although more tourists visit Pakistan now than ever before, we still believe that there is much to be done. While tourism is increasing in Pakistan, there are still many concerns for tourists. Let us hope and pray that the government will take positive steps in this direction and that their efforts will yield sweet fruits, so that Pakistan can become the ideal destination for adventure-seekers and nature lovers.