The growing shadow of the Corona crisis on Pakistani tourism
Indeed, Allah has bestowed innumerable blessings, facilities and resources for man in this universe. Who knows the nature, habits and preferences of mankind better than the Creator of the universe? To captivate one's heart, high and lofty mountains make the sea dance for one's enjoyment, sometimes it gives mysterious beauty to the desert and sometimes it enriches the forests with biodiversity.
Changing seasons have a profound effect on human life. Some people like winter, some people like summer. There is hardly a person on this earth who does not like the spring weather and its colors. While the spring season brings a refreshing freshness, it also arouses the desire of tourism enthusiasts to see beautiful scenery. But sadly, spring has come this year, but a deadly germ called corona has overwhelmed the madness of tourism enthusiasts, leaving no room for carelessness.
At present, in many countries of the world, including Pakistan, the colors of spring are spreading everywhere, but tourists as well as locals are unable to see these colors. While the spread of the corona virus has shut down all businesses in the world, it has also severely damaged global tourism. From the Burj Khalifa to the Eiffel Tower and Turkey's famous Blue Mosque, the tourist city of Venice is now a tourist attraction.
According to a report, the head of the World Tourism Forum Institute, Balt Begsey, has said that the global tourism sector has lost one trillion dollars due to the corona virus. Emphasizing the speed of the spread of the virus and its impact on the tourism sector, Balt Begsi added that 50 million people working in the sector could lose their jobs.
In more than 200 countries around the world, including the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Spain, France, South Korea, Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Turkey, and Malaysia, which account for a large share of GDP annually from tourism. There is a lock down at the moment. Due to which the tourism sector is having a lasting impact.
Never before in history has there been such a crisis in the tourism sector. It is feared that even if the epidemic is brought under control, the revival of the tourism sector will not be easy and will affect more than 60 tourism-related business sectors.
Although the tourism sector in Pakistan has been affected in various ways due to frequent incidents of terrorism, natural disasters and tussle in the country's politics and many other reasons, the law and order situation in the country has improved over the last 3 to 4 years. Reduction in natural disasters, public awareness on social media and government attention have greatly improved the tourism industry and this sector was also able to contribute more than Rs. 80 crore to the country's GDP and was expected to reach Rs. By then this amount will reach one trillion.
The process of booking and reserving foreign tourists for the tourist season in Pakistan from May to August is completed by March, but this time due to the Corona Emergency, the booking of foreign tourists is almost non-existent and has already taken place. Yes, they are now being canceled. Most of the Pakistani mountaineers and tourists come from Italy, Germany, Spain, Poland, Japan and Korea. Unfortunately, these countries are the most affected by the corona virus.
Foreign tourists from these countries have more than 50 expeditions (mountaineering expeditions) every year, but this year they are likely to be canceled. The cancellation of these campaigns will adversely affect local guides, porters and jeep drivers in Skardu, Hunza, Shamshal, Naltar, Chitral.
According to Komel Ahmed, founder of the tourism services website Find My Adventures, 2,865 families will be directly affected by the absence of these foreign expeditions. According to renowned mountaineer and author of several books, Muhammad Abduh and Hamza Khalid, president of the All Pakistan Tour Operators Association, the current situation will also affect the summer season. Apart from the arrival of foreign tourists, local tourists will also avoid leaving.
The current corona virus crisis will severely affect the following tourism-related sectors and businesses.
The airline industry is currently suffering a financial loss of more than 50 50 billion worldwide, and by the end of the year this loss is projected to be many times higher. In Pakistan, too, the airline industry has been badly affected by the possible closure of Umrah and Hajj and the suspension of flights to other countries. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has so far suffered a loss of Rs 4 billion. Thus, the prospects for the PIA to be able to stand on its own two feet in the near future seem to be limited.
Millions of people in Pakistan are involved in the travel agency business. With the sudden cessation of airline operations, the business community has been stranded with the airline for billions of rupees in ticket refunds. While Umrah, Hajj, visiting the holy places of Iran and Iraq, the ban on international travel and tourism could lead to the worst financial crisis for those involved in the business.
There are currently 70 tour operators registered with the All Pakistan Tour Operators Association, about 100 with the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators, and 400 tour operators with the All Pakistan Tour Operators, while the number of unregistered operators is about the same.
These tour operators have a large number of people who have stepped into the field a year or two ago, seeing a significant increase in the country's tourism trend. Under normal circumstances, the summer season makes operators so profitable that they cover the expenses of the year, but due to the current situation, if the summer season is affected, the biggest loss will be borne by the young business entrants. And it is possible that most of them will be forced to give up this job. If this happens, God willing, all those who come in the field of tourism will surely be discouraged.
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About 70% of the people in the northern areas depend on tourism for their livelihood. Most of them are involved in various hotel activities. According to an estimate, about 200 hotels in Skardu, 350 in Hunza, 150 in various tourist destinations in Gilgit-Baltistan, 400 in Swat Valley, 50 in Neelum Valley and more than 500 in Naran Valley are closed in this beautiful spring season. As a result, thousands of families associated with these hotels are facing financial difficulties. According to the presidents of the hotel associations, the current situation will affect not only low-paid waiters, scavengers, cooks and other staff in these hotels, but also hotel owners who lease and borrow from banks on an annual basis. There will also be difficulties.
Since the role of transport is key in the tourism sector, due to the lack of tourism in Pakistan, very few people were taking the risk of investing in this sector. But given the growth of tourism in Pakistan in the last three or four years, there has been a significant increase in investment in this sector. Some people leased and some got small and big cars from investors on a monthly basis. In the current situation, new entrants to the sector as well as old transporters are facing difficulties.
Porter and guide. There are a number of local guides and porters or forts located in the northern areas who help and guide foreign and domestic tourists to K2, Mushram, Broad Peak, Nanga Parbat, Raka Pushi and other high peaks. The livelihood of depends on this work. These people will probably be most affected by the potential damage to Pakistani tourism.
There are a large number of trout farms in the northern areas, including Swat and the Kagan Valley, and the people involved in this business depend on the tourism sector. Now, while tourism is declining, its consumption will also be declining and thus the people whose jobs were associated with it will also be severely affected.
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