Tourism in Pakistan

According to Trip Advisor, Pakistan was named the Best Destination for a Holiday in 2020 and the Third-Best Adventure Destination for the World in 2020. Tourism has surged by more than 300 percent in the last two years as the country's security improves. Visas for 175 countries can now be applied for online and 50 nations can obtain a visa upon arrival, making travel to Pakistan more convenient. Travel vloggers flooded the country, highlighting the beauty of the northern regions of Hunza and Skardu. Described by the British Backpacker Society as "one of the nicest countries on the planet, with alpine scenery that is beyond anyone's wildest vision," Pakistan was named the world's top adventure travel destination in 2018. One of 2019's "coolest locations to visit" according to Forbes magazine is Pakistan. With its Indus delta mangroves and Indus Valley Civilization ruins, Pakistan has been ranked in the top 25 percent of global destinations for its World Heritage sites, which include Mohenjo-daro and Harappa. A whopping 2.8% of Pakistan's GDP was generated by travel and tourism in 2015, according to the World Economic Forum's Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017.Pakistan's GDP in 2016 was US$7.6 billion (PKR 793.0 billion), or 2.7 percent of the total GDP, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Tourists are expected to contribute Rs1 trillion (US$6.2 billion) to Pakistan's economy by the year 2025, according to the government. Exactly a year after the earthquake in Kashmir, Pakistan's tourism industry was given a boost when The Guardian published a list of the country's "top five tourist spots."

Lahore, the Karakoram Highway, Karimabad, and Lake Saiful Muluk were all on the itinerary. Several events, including fairs, religious festivals, regional athletic events, art and craft displays, folk festivals, and the opening of historical museums were part of Pakistan's "Visit Pakistan" marketing campaign in 2007.

(image taken from unsplash)