After visa-on-arrival (VOA) granted to 5 countries, the government has launched e-visa facility for 175 countries in a bid to attract business and tourism. The present government has been keen to take up tourism as a key sector; the importance of the sector has also been highlighted in a latest ADB’s scoping study on potential of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program as a platform to promote a regional approach to tourism development.
The CAREC Program consists of 11 countries namely: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This partnership is supported by development partners that are promoting growth and poverty reduction though cooperation.
The study is based on the idea that tourism in the region can be developed by enhancing and expanding cooperation among member countries in the tourism sector as well as by maximising economic opportunities while safeguarding ecosystems. Tourism cooperation is a key priority of CAREC 2030 Strategy, where it is considered as an effective tool for developing countries in aiding the achievement of SDGs.
According to the study, tourist arrivals in the CAREC region are expected to increase by around five percent per year over the ten-year period from 2018-2028. And of this, the per annum growth rate for tourist arrival in Pakistan during the period mentioned above stands at 5.1 percent – fourth highest after Mongolia, Uzbekistan and Georgia.
Certain factors have been highlighted as key in the development of tourism in the CAREC region; and Pakistan stands a good chance to benefit from quite a few. Domestic and regional travel represents significant opportunities for the CAREC countries. First, the improved income levels and spending power of a populous country can help develop local and regional tourism; though the country still falls behind in adequate financial ability of the its populations to engage in leisure travel.
The study highlights that there is limited engagement in other international languages of tourism in the region, apart from English in Pakistan and Chinese in the eastern areas. However, it can be seen that while English is an important language in the country, CPEC activity has given a boost to Chinese language being taught in academics and otherwise in Pakistan.
Also, complex visa procedures and entry requirements have been highlighted as a deterrent in tourism development in the region. Visa requirements vary between all CAREC countries and the source countries. Pakistan is one the countries that has taken key steps to simplify the complex visa regimes for especially for boosting tourism.
Regional corridors are highlighted to play a crucial role in promoting regional tourism. One of China’s Belt and Road project key corridors is China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), and offers the abovementioned opportunity.
However, it’s true that attention at the micro level is still needed. Since tourism is a provincial subject after the 18th Amendment, engaging locals, boosting local tourism and provision of hospitality and ancillary services require provinces to work with the federal government. News reports suggest that an endowment fund is on the cards by the federal government to promote tourism with the collaboration of all provinces. For a detail commentary on issues needing attentions, read “Tourism needs a plan” published on January 29, 2019.
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