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[MansabK]

Let’s visit Pakistan, but why?

Government celebrating year to project enlightened moderation
By By Kamal Siddiqi(Editor Reporting)

KARACHI: A multi-million dollar campaign has been launched to mark 2007 as “Visit Pakistan Year.” Delegates were flown into Rawalpindi and Islamabad in December 2006 where in a grand function, the powers that be decreed that this was one way to improve the country’s image and also show it as an oasis of enlightened moderation.

Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar, who has no prior experience in tourism or in the travel industry, announced a calendar of events for 2007.

Ms Bakhtiar said that the yearlong celebration would help promote Pakistan as an attractive destination for tourists “when they return to their countries.” One needs to understand this concept.

The minister said efforts would be made to involve people from all faiths in the celebrations and added that a Christmas function would be held in Lahore on December 25.

She also said a marathon would be organized in Lahore on January 14 and a Pakistan Tourism Fair would be held from January 15 to 21 in Lahore.

Other events in the “Visit Pakistan Year 2007” include cultural shows, melas, festivals, sporting events and a Train Safari in the Khewra Salt Mines with a cultural programme.

She said the celebrations would end with a tourism convention and a cultural show in Islamabad on December 30, 2007.

While grand sounding, the plan and its related preparations, however, are full of holes. First of all, some delegates pointed out that the logo to commemorate the year, which was designed at a great cost to the taxpayer, looked strikingly similar to a similar logo designed some years back by a European country. Almost identical. A case of great minds thinking alike?

Another question that delegates, which comprised tour operators and travel agents of varying degrees of repute, asked was why would anyone want to come to Pakistan in the first place. While the country has a lot to offer, there are a number of problems that need to be addressed. Very little was said about this in the subsequent meetings.

Operators were also sore over the fact that the idea of Visit Pakistan year is not a new one and that such announcements have been made in the past. There was talk of Visit Pakistan 2005, which was shifted to Visit Pakistan 2006 and finally and formally has Visit Pakistan 2007, been launched.

On the manner this was done, the Pakistan Travel Web, a website dedicated to travel in Pakistan commented earlier last year:

“2006 was announced as visit Pakistan year by the government. In the recent past, there was a similar announcement, twice but the program was cancelled, without any prior notice.”

The web site added “Once again, it has been announced at an odd time, when there is no time left for planning and advertising. Moreover, no solid policy has been announced so far about what facilities are going to be offered or what kind of packages are going to be announced.”

That was 2006. This time round, it seems that the government had done its homework. Or has it? Policies and concessions have been announced. But a closer look at on ground realities suggest that this may not be the best time to go for a Visit Pakistan year.

Let us look what our government is offering. In February, for Balochistan the focus will be on the Sibi Mela, the Mehrgarh Conference in Quetta in March and a drive along the coastal highway later in the year.

The only problem, of course, is that Balochistan is currently beset with a serious law and order problem. Most foreigners need to be escorted to the province under guard. And in some areas, they need permits. Travelling here is a challenge. Tourism may be suicidal.

The tourism ministry has been more pragmatic about Karachi though where it has highlighted only one event, a conference of sorts on SAARC tourism. But why would any tourist want to attend a conference on tourism? Someone needs to ask. Also, is that all Karachi has to offer in the eyes of our government?

Crime seems to be a big deterrent for tourists. This issue has not been addressed by the tourism ministry in its grand strategy to lure visitors to the Islamic Republic.

One operator said “I am really afraid about this visit Pakistan thing. Firstly, there is no security in areas in Punjab and parts of Sind. So outsiders are really not OK with arrangements. If you need guards everywhere that’s not worth it.”

Then there is a problem of infrastructure. While we have built our highways, clean and well-maintained restrooms have not followed suit. Many highways (with the exception of the Motorway) lack proper rest rooms and teashops. Travellers have to do with smelly outhouses or the fields.

Hotels in many of the places that have been so romantically described do not exist. There is no hotel offering reasonable facilities to cater to foreign tourists in places like Umerkot, Hyderabad and towns in southern Punjab. How many people will be accommodated in government rest houses, many of which are in a dilapidated condition? The only guest accommodation that seemed to have flourished is that which has to do with the military. In fact, they have also taken many historical sites for their use.

Such installations are not open to Pakistani citizens let alone foreign tourists. Where are we going to house the thousands that we expect to lure to Pakistan?

Tourists also complain that there are no proper two and three star hotels in Pakistan. Either we have the Mariotts and the Serenas, which are world class or near about, or we have the Khyber Hotels next to the main railway station where there is no guarantee of life let alone luggage.

We have sold off many of our beautiful PTDC motels and hotels. The private sector is not offering the same quality of hotels at those rates any more. There is no real incentive for hoteliers to build small hotels of any standard. Most of our heritage buildings have been pulled down so the chance of them being converted into hotels as is seen in India is slim.

How will the tourists move about? Public transport is in shambles. Taxis don’t run by the meter. Buses get held up as robbers go through them stripping people of valuables. This happens in broad daylight in busy Karachi streets.

The latest controversy surrounds the Jashn-e-Baharan festival (also known to lesser mortals as Basant) in Lahore. This festival had become a crowd puller for tourists to Lahore. But what’s the fun in that?

The city government says that in Basant, kites cause damage to the infrastructure worth millions because of the kind of twine used in flying the kites which has ground glass particles in it. Needless deaths have occurred. How does the government react? Instead of punishing those who make, sell and use such dangerous string, the government bans the festival.

The Supreme Court also wants to know why a ban it imposed on kite flying is being violated. How can we advertise a festival as part of the Visit Pakistan year when the premise of the festival (kite flying) is subject to a court order?

No need to talk about the marathon where some parties thought the “mixed marathon” was a brazen display of indecent behavior. Speaking of indecent, why does every event of any note we do have to end with a fashion show of sorts? Is that all we have left to show visitors? The cultural show in Islamabad in December will most probably present more of the same. One wonders why.

Another question that one can ask is that is holding a Visit Pakistan year on a year in which elections are supposed to be held a good idea, given the heat of sentiments that go with such exercises?

Would it not be a good idea to put our house in order before inviting in guests to sample what it has to offer? Also to time it better and more practically plan it. But that would require foresight and patience, both of which seem to be in short supply.


The NEWS

[Jilawatan]

A very good article with very good points. Through my own personal experience I agree that the ministry of tourism is very ill managed.

[MAA]

I think they should confine international tourist to a select class of religion, historians/ archaeologists and people who like scenic beauty. These people will get their’s worth in Pakistan. It will be very hard I think to attract mainstream international tourists to Pakistan, because we don’t provide alcoholic beverages, clubs etc. which most foreigners look to. And even if these are provided discreetly, it’s not in abundance.

We should instead focus on internal tourism, 160 million people with increased purchasing power is a huge market in itself.

[Skyscraper_guy]

Whoever wrote this article is too pessimistic! I read articles written by Philipino and Thai journalists encouraging people from their nation to visit Pakistan this year. They have a lot of positive things to say about Pakistan.

[Tekno Arkitect]

Hmmmm......
My latest experience shows that this articles is somewhat very realistic in terms of the problems highlighted related to tourism industry directly or indirectly.

On my trip to southern Punjab, inwhich I visited Bahawalpur, Cholistan, Panjnad, Rahimyar Khan, Bhong etc we had to be escorted by protocols due to insurity in that region. if the local ppl like us have to given protocols cauz there are gangs in this area which kidnap ppl and feudal instablity, then foreigners are at more threat. the road infrastructure at the secondary and tertiory level is very poor which ruins the travel adventure and make tours longer than usual. plus there are not many good hotel in the remote areas to promote and uplift those areas. Plus the sites to visit are in the most deterioating or neglected condition that no common man has easy access to it so i wonder how the foreigners would approach it. First we need to work on many such problems n then go on fer campaigns like these. Focus on areas that are easily accessable and look for proposals to improve the tourism to other new unexplored areas. I will post the picture of many of the Palaces of Bahawalpur that are under the custody of army now and cannot be access easily without high permission n permits. The army over here I should say in the hinderance in promoting tourism to such beautiful wonders. U will hafto wait a few months before i upload them. I took about 1500 pix in 5 days!! I need a hell lot time to upload, improve picture quality and post it on UPK! But keep ur fingers crossed abt the release date!
hehehe


Regards
Techno Architect

[Shiraz]

I don’t want to sound as cynical as the columnist, but the tourism industry has indeed been neglected for decades by our leadership. Just to put a few facts in perspective:

Most of the people in the world today don’t even know that peaks like K2 and Nanga Parbat lie within Pakistan. An example is that when I show my Western friends some pics of such places they instantly become mind boggled. Their first usual reaction is, "I didn’t know or expect Pakistan to be so rich and beautiful". Our tourism ministry’s have been sleeping over the years and not promoting Pakistan properly. Even Nepal has done a better job in promoting themselves! Pakistan could become better than Egypt, Lebanon or Malaysia put together in the tourism sector. They don’t have half of what we’ve to offer to the world. Huge potential in Pakistan’s tourism industry as it’s yet undiscovered by the world. Pakistan is home to 108 peaks above 7,000m and probably as many peaks above 6,000m. There is no count of the peaks above 5,000 and 4,000m. Five of the 14 highest independent peaks in the world (the eight-thousanders) are in Pakistan. Pakistan is the world’s finest skiing, ski boarding, mountaineering winter sports resort. Switzerland and Austria which are supposed to be the “hub” of winter sports in the world are a mediocre in this regard compared to Pakistan. They don’t even have one 5000m peak let alone 6000, 7000 or 8000 plussers! Besides, I’m not even yet talking about Pakistan’s other unique breathtakingly beautiful sights, diverse cultures, historical monuments and landscapes.

As far as I’m concerned Pakistan should even be aiming at hosting the Olympic Winter Games in the coming decades. Perhaps even jointly with India, Nepal and China? Now that’s what I’d really call a mammoth undertaking for the tourism ministry in Pakistan. That might sound too optimistic but it’s very logical. Let me explain in a nutshell. We should build proper infrastructures, like suggested in the column, and start the bidding process. It’ll create jobs, attract investment, generate revenue, promote tourism abroad and basically put Pakistan on the world map. It’s a mega project that’ll benefit Pakistan’s economy in the longer run even after the Winter Games are finished as far is tourism is concerned. We'll have the proper up to standard vital infrastructure such as a-class roads, hotels and winter sports facilities in place. Arab magnates and firms should also focus on investing in Pakistan's tourism industry other than its urban property sector! We should learn from our neighbor China whom are also hosting the upcoming Olympic Games!

Neighboring unstable Afghanistan may currently form a bottleneck in this regard. Nevertheless, we should still focus on investing in the tourism industry. Even if we disregard the West the Islamic countries and East Asian tourists in particular should be our main focus. We should collaborate with China as they’re our friendly and brotherly neighbors. They’ve the means, ability and experience to assist Pakistan in this field. Afghanistan’s problems should be restricted to their borders. Their problems aren’t our responsibilities. However, imagine the prospects if peace prevails in our region.

[fan]

Whoever wrote this article is too pessimistic! I read articles written by Philipino and Thai journalists encouraging people from their nation to visit Pakistan this year. They have a lot of positive things to say about Pakistan.

i do agree with you we should create +ve image of pakistan rather than to promote -ve one
while browsing i found this cool site
check it out
http://www.pakistanshining.com/

WE LOVE PAKISTAN WE ALL SHOULD PROMOTE +VE PAKISTAN IMAGE:)

[aliee]

Pakistan Zindaabad

[Pakia]

Last visit was in March 2010.

From DC to Karachi, then by Makran Hwy to Gawdar & Jeewni (Balochistan).
Back to Karachi and then off to Islamabad (PIA), from there to Taxila (Punjab), Nowshera (KPK), Pir Piai (KPK) and Peshawar.

From Peshawar to Karachi and back in USA.

Had tons of fun & new appreciation for Pakistan.

[Zain Abbass]

Last visit was in March 2010.

From DC to Karachi, then by Makran Hwy to Gawdar & Jeewni (Balochistan).
Back to Karachi and then off to Islamabad (PIA), from there to Taxila (Punjab), Nowshera (KPK), Pir Piai (KPK) and Peshawar.

From Peshawar to Karachi and back in USA.

Had tons of fun & new appreciation for Pakistan.

Provide some details on Gwadar. Any observations?