Re: End of Swat tourism?
thejoke, I stayed at PTDC's back in 1998 or 1999 in Kalam, Swat, in one of those huts they offered, and even then there were about 10 huts out of which 6 had been rented out by goras in May, and most of them were Brits.
yeah but 'most of the time' is hardly encouraging.
That's true.
I tell you another thing! We talk about Swat as tourist destination and that is only one of the possible source of tourism.
But we must remember that remote areas like Swat will be no match for tourism in larger port cities like Karachi.
Anyone who bemones the terrorism vs. tourism in Swat must demand answers from Karachites as to why there is so little tourism in a large city of 10+ millions?
Talibs may have created a mess in Swat, but there are bigger unshaven Talibs who practically drove out every major airline from Karachi. With airlines, other industries like hotels, restaurants, catering, and transport were gone too.
Tourists need modern aka sophisticated infrastructure, and friendly open minded natives. Bad infrastructure in Karachi may be blamed to lack of money form Feds, but how can we explain terrorism in Karachi.
I guess we can just blame Indians and go back to our uncouth ways.
Re: End of Swat tourism?
Why is the entire focus of attracting foreign tourists goras? How about people from nearby like China and Thailand?
Why is the entire focus of attracting foreign tourists goras? How about people from nearby like China and Thailand?
You are correct TDW. Tourism is kind of color blind and it should be so. Goras or Kalas all are welcome as tourists based on two conditions:
- They have loads of cash to spend
- They do not fan terrorism in the country
So if Chinese or Thai people fulfill these conditions, by all means they are welcome. Miskeen visitors are not tourists, they are called refugees or immigrants.
Re: End of Swat tourism?
Chinese tourists are nowadays more interested in gambling destinations or shopping (eg Macau, Hong Kong even Singapore). The really rich go to Switzerland, UK. It would take some really serious promotion for Pakistan to make any inroads there.
Killing Chinese engineers hasn't exactly helped matters
Re: End of Swat tourism?
WoQ that's so true. Pakistani talibs are following the tactics of their masters the "Gama Islamiah" of Egypt. Gama terrorists killed many tourists until finally the Egyptian army killed or captured Gama henchmen.
I guess the day Pak army captures and kills major Gama figures in Pak, we'll have insurgency in Pakistan.
Re: End of Swat tourism?
i think we should forget about tourism from non pakistani people, even our internal tourists dont consider going to these areas , how can we expect any one from abroad visiting Pakistan. even if the locals from different parts Pakistan or Pakistanis from abroad start touring PAkistan, locals will get the jobs back in hospitality and transport etc. later we can think of attracting the others.
If Pakistanis dont consider visiting these areas then a foriegner will defnitely avoid going to the county thinking he will be the target of these fanatics.
Pakistan tourism only attracted by people who really know or want to know about the place and are adenturers. absolutely no one attracted to Pakistan because of any marketing by the country. PTDC has even failed to tap the local potential, running hotel/motels and coach services should be left to private sector they should be facilitator not the operators!
with no marketing or image building Pakistan is left to international/local media news, that didnt help at all
and the jihadi elements on the rampage , lal masjid at the heart of Islamabad and terrorist bombing in major cities brought end to natural attracted tourists.
Re: End of Swat tourism?
How can a country survive without ANY export oriented electronics, automobiles, tv networks, tourism, services etc? Is there even a economics ministry open these days?
Re: End of Swat tourism?
^^ we are agri based economy, our major exports are cotton, rice, lentils etc, sport and surgical goods. auto and electronics we make are hardly enough for local so no exports.
many tv networks, and services sector making waves
and thats we have without much support from any ministry.
Re: End of Swat tourism?
^ right now in the global markets agri and commodity sectors are making huge returns. if what you're saying is true, Pakistan should have a huge trade surplus - instead it is a record deficit. How come?
Re: End of Swat tourism?
^^^ we import more compared to export that's why the trade deficit, major imports are machinery, oil, cars, electronics, palm oil, industrial chemicals, computers and automation etc
so thats why we have huge trade deficit.