The reopening tourism in Pakistan is encouraging for the stakeholders of the tourism industry such as tour agencies, transport companies, hoteliers, etc; are celebrating this. But it seems the Corona Pandemic not yet over and SOPs are not followed by the people that arose danger in the country. We see thousands of visitors in the touristic regions like Kaghan and Naran Valleys, Gilgit-Baltistan, Ghizar, Hunza, Skardu, and other parts of the country. The government has reopened tourism owing to the economical crises in the country with proper SOPs and safety measures, but unfortunately, we are not following all those safety measures to be safe from this pandemic.
Fearless in the Mountain Communities of Gilgit-Baltistan
We the mountain communities of Gilgit-Baltistan appreciate the decisions of tourism by the government to cope with economical crises that occurred during the corona pandemic 2020. It has left the worst impact on the economy of the region. The people of the north have been out jobs during this pandemic, they do not have anything if they fall in any sickness and the health has been quite expensive if someone the visitors transmit corona to the locals then it will add to the worries and difficulties of the people. The people are afraid of the current situation where we see none is following the SOPs since the last few days opening of tourism many visitors move towards the north and visit the areas without safety measures. This is a thread for the locals and for the government as in north Pakistan.
Contribution of Tourism Industry in the North
71% of the annual economy is dependent on the tourism industry, thousands of national and international visitors visit the north of Pakistan which is full of natural beauty that adds to the economy. Hundreds of guides and cooks, thousands of porters, and numerous hoteliers, transporters, and supply chain of the tourism industry benefit of this industry it does not only contribute to individuals but to the whole society. In last few days we see on social media that many people moved towards the north, the roads along the Naran and Kaghan Valleys are full of traffic jams many people struck on the road it takes hours and hours to move forwards in the crowds which seems dangerous of the pandemic, visitors need to be very very cautious during the traveling about the pandemic which has not been over yet we need to be careful. Everyone needs to follow up on the SOPs and safety measures in order to avoid the attack of the Crazy Pandemic that destroyed the economy of the whole world for the last 8 months. The globe is suffering from it and none could be able to reach the reality of it and tell about it when we will free of it in this entire world.
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The Perception of the people on Re-opening of Tourism
Nowadays the Social Media in Pakistan is hit with the different news and perception of the people about the reopening of tourism in Pakistan. Most of the people who directly or indirectly connected with the tourism industry are favoring it and throwing positive news and some of the people who have not any concerns with the tourism industry are against this decision and put negative news. But the reality is not seen anywhere what is the result of this decision. The tourism industry no doubt plays a pivotal role in the economy in any country where all the people benefit from it directly or indirectly. To me, it benefits 90% of the population in Gilgit-Baltistan from the lower class to the upper class. Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) WhatsApp group is full of different perceptions and debates are lived 24/7, to make sure the positive impact in the society by this decision that will lead to a restart of the tourism industry this year and for especially next year, because the peak tourist season in Pakistan is almost over now and we need to pave the path for the next year. If it leaves a positive impact then we will be able to ensure our clients visit Pakistan now and next if it goes against then we will be back to 9/11 and COVID-19 the worst experiences of the industry.
For the positive impact, each individual weather we are service providers or visitors needs to make sure the safety measure following the SOPs and other safety measures set by the entire authorities context to context. Being responsible citizens of the country we all of should respect decisions of law enforcing institutions following their set rules and regulation in any factor especially the SOPs to avoid suffering from this pandemic and other such negative impacts on the society and the tourism industry.
Ground Realities after the opening Tourism in Pakistan
Soon after the reopening of the tourism thousands of domestic tourist fled towards mountainous North Pakistan, Kashmir, and parts of Khyber Pukhtun Khwa to beat the scorching heats of plains of Pakistan to enjoy the natural beauty, but unfortunately, the tourism was opened with specific and PROPER SOPs to be followed. We see thousands of people without any safety measures are moving in the touristic regions. The law enforcement authorities advise the visitors to follow the safety measures and try to make them safe. But still, the visitors' responses do not seem positive. For the last few days, we see many unethical actions towards the law enforcing institutions are individuals are pointed with negative comments in response to their respective duties. Hundreds of people on the road are gathering on traffic jams without masks, social distances, and other safety measures and voicing against the law-enforcing authorities which are completely unethical and against human behavior. Tourism flow of domestic visitors is on its top in these days, fortunately for last few days since the tourism reopened, we have not got any news of CORONA PANDEMIC positive cases happened in the visitors and the local communities where thousands of tourist and local interactions.
Until now we have not seen any negative impact of the reopening of tourism.
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