July 28, 2002	Sunday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 17,1423

ISLAMABAD, July 27: Pakistan’s revenue receipts from the international tourists arrivals during the year 2001 stood at $92.2 million against $6.4 million in 2000, showing an increase of $85.8 million.

The official sources told Dawn on Saturday that the increase in revenue from the tourists was registered following the Sept 11 incidents.

They said that major increase in revenue was due to the visits of high-level diplomats, other foreign dignitaries and specially newsmen from the international media, who stayed in Pakistan to report and monitor the US led war in Afghanistan.

On the other hand, the international tourists arrivals fell by 10 per cent to 0.5 million during the year 2001 against 0.55 million in 2000.

The officials said the actual decline in tourists arrivals had already started much ahead the Sept 11 incident because of the deterioration in the economy, affecting North American, European and Asian economies at the same time with worldwide economic growth dropping to 2.5 per cent in 2001, down from 4.7 per cent in the year 2000.

The Sept 11 event severely aggravated the situation for the first time resulting in massive decrease in the worldwide number of tourists arrivals.

The officials further said that the situation was not yet completely favourable because of the prevailing tensions in the region following the military build up at the boarders.

They were of the opinion that in case the boarder tension continued for one more month it would inflict serious damage to the tourism industry in 2002.

Despite the fact that for many countries tourism is a very important source of foreign exchange earnings and employment, interestingly, the government has not projected any amount in the PSDP 2002-03 report for any new project for the promotion of tourism in the country.

According to the report, only an amount of Rs8.002 million was allocated in the budget 2002-03 for the ongoing project of Pakistan Austrian Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Gulli Bagh, Swat; PTDC motel at Gupis; and Motel at Phandar.