ISLAMABAD, Dec 2: Tourism officials were optimistic on Tuesday the revival of flights to and from India in the New Year will bring tourists back to Pakistan.

“I am sure it will have good impact on tourism,” tourism ministry secretary Khalid Latif Chaudhry told AFP.

“The decision will increase the flow of tourists as the lifting of the ban will reduce travel time for people coming to this area. More people from abroad will now like to travel to Pakistan.”

Tourists venturing to northern Pakistan to trek in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges plummeted from 1,400 in 2001 to 99 in 2002.

Overflight bans not only meant the cancellation of 12 weekly flights between Pakistan and India, it increased travelling times to Pakistan from popular tourist centres.

Pakistan International Airlines had to re-route its Bangkok-Islamabad flights over China to avoid Indian airspace, stretching the journey to 12 hours.

From January 1 the flights will be back down to six hours, boosting the appeal of Pakistan to travellers in Southeast Asia.

PIA flights to Beijing, Dhaka, Colombo, Singapore, Tokyo and Kuala Lumpur would save about 20 minutes to one hour, spokesman Bashir Ahmed said.

However PIA has not drawn up a new schedule for flights to India as it was still awaiting formal notification of the resumption of airlinks.

PIA saw its revenue cut by six per cent from the suspension of India-bound flights, according to financial watchdogs.

“Now PIA... may gain more than the lost revenues,” InvestCap Securities chief analyst Mohammad Sohail predicted.

Islamabad-based tour operators said the revival of direct flights from India and London sent positive messages to the outside world about Pakistan as a destination.

“We expect a very good season next year,” Mushir Anwer, manager of Nazir Sabir Expeditions, told AFP.

“Tourists from India, Nepal and East Asia can easily travel to Pakistan. Many did not come due to the detour and long connecting flights.”

Anwer also expected a return of North American travellers.—AFP