ON Dec 15, 2019, Pakistan was ranked the top tourist destination for travellers for the year 2020 by the United States-based luxury and lifestyle publication Condé Nast Traveller.

The tourism sector is playing a vital role in our economy. In 2018, the contribution of tourism to GDP was 7.1 per cent, bringing billions of dollars and creating new job opportunities within the economy.

Indeed it was a great step by the government to establish the National Tourism Coordination Board to coordinate with provinces, territories and regions. The tourism industry contributes to Pakistan’s economy through foreign currency inflow, job opportunities and infrastructure.

In addition, numerous small-scale businesses like hotels, restaurants, car rental agencies and tour companies are associated with the tourism industry.

Pakistan is the most preferable tourist destination and had received several positive reviews of Pakistan’s tourist attractions by travel bloggers, vloggers, magazines and adventure clubs.

The government was expecting to compete with other top countries like the US, Spain, France, Italy, and Hong Kong by 2025. This Covid-19 pandemic will have economic consequences all over the world and it will be hard for Pakistan as a developing economy to bear these consequences. The question is: what will be the future of the tourism sector and what measures will the government take to maintain this sector?

The tourism industry always booms during the summer season, but this year a major decline is expected. Thus the government should take the right steps to give a further boost to this growing sector, which is cost-effective and brings foreign exchange. This eventually helps us to stop currency devaluation as the dollar is already skyrocketing against Pakistani rupee.

This sector will also help create thousands of job opportunities in both the formal and informal sectors, which will ultimately lessen the burden on the government.

Saleem Dilawar
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2020