World Tourism Day � Digital advancements can turn Pakistan 'Tourism's Next Big Thing'

Pakistan has a lot of potential regarding tourism because of its diverse and well-preserved culture

27 September,2018 04:31 pm

(WebDesk) - World Tourism Day is being celebrated today under the theme "Tourism and the Digital Transformation". Since 1980, the United Nations World Tourism Organization has celebrated World Tourism Day as international observances on September 27.

The purpose of this day is to raise awareness on the role of tourism within the international community and to demonstrate how it affects social, cultural, political and economic values worldwide. The theme of the day was "sustainable tourism", in 2017.

For many of the north European countries, tourism is the sole revenue producer and helps in sustaining their economy. Tourism has experienced continued expansion and diversification, and it has become one of the fastest growing & most important economic sectors in the world.

Also Read: Jeep rally on World Tourism Day 2018: Tourism can generate billions of dollars

LET S CONNECT PAKISTAN TO WORLD TOURISTS DIGITALLY

Digital advances like all other sectors are influential in developing the tourism Industry as well. Technological progressions are transforming how we connect and inform ourselves, transforming our behavior, and encouraging innovation and sustainable, responsible growth strategies.

Pakistan government is also committed to expand the prospects for tourism in Pakistan and generate more and more resources to facilitate the tourism industry including finances, infrastructure and other development projects, building new tourist sites and facilities for travelers, sightseers and explorers to attract more and more tourists every year.

Also Read: Exploring Pakistan: KP is set to serve as a hub of tourism

Pakistan has places ranking in the best of the world not only in the north but also in Lahore, Mohenjo-Daro, Thatta, along coastal line and many more across the country. From the mighty stretches of the Karakorum’s in the North to the vast alluvial delta of the Indus River in the South, Pakistan remains a land of high adventure and nature. Trekking, mountaineering, white water rafting, wild boar hunting, mountain and desert jeep safaris, camel and yak safaris, trout fishing and bird watching are a few activities, which entice the adventure and nature lovers to Pakistan.

The combination of digital platforms, user-generated content and feedback, social media integration, global positioning services, and the use of big data and artificial intelligence, has transformed the way people experience, consume and share information. To move tourism forward in Pakistan, government needs to understand the growing economic, societal and environmental impacts of technology and innovation in tourism to sustain continuous growth in line with the vision to make it the largest and profitable industry.

Also Read: Tourism and Pakistan’s Identity

Though Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) has announced to digitalise all tourism sites for promoting the tourism sector in Pakistan and providing more facilities for tourists, but some robust and sturdy digital marketing, advertising and PR policies are also required to build tourism in Pakistan attractive through digital media and technological advancements to connect them with the facilities and fun available to them.

DEVELOPING TOURISM INDUSTRY OF PAKISTAN

Here are few of the fast facts about the developing and growing industry of Tourism in Pakistan to attract more and more local and foreign tourists, voyagers, travelers and explorers across the world:

Also Read: World Toursim Day: Pakistan still a heaven for tourists despite challenges

- In 2009, The World Economic Forum’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report ranked Pakistan as one of the top 25% tourist destinations for its World Heritage sites. It ranged from mangroves in the south, to the 5,000-year-old cities of the Indus Valley Civilization which included Mohenjo-daro and Harappa.

- In 2010, World’s largest travel guide book publisher ‘Lonely Plane’ termed Pakistan as tourism’s ‘next big thing’ for more years than we care to remember.

- In 2018, the British Backpacker Society ranked Pakistan as the world’s top adventure travel destination, describing the country as "one of the friendliest countries on earth, with mountain scenery, fabulous food, and probably the world’s greatest “road trip”.

- According to a report released by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation early in the year, tourism in Pakistan has increased by 300 pc over the past few years.

- 1.75 million Tourists visited Pakistan in 2017 alone and 30 pc travelers were domestic.

- According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), last year, revenue from tourism contributed around $19.4 billion to Pakistan’s economy and made up 6.9pc of gross domestic product. The WTTC expects that amount to rise to $36.1 billion within a decade.

- By 2025, the government predicts tourism will mint Rupees one trillion.

Also Read: Pakistan: As security improves so does tourism

Pakistan particularly has a lot of potential regarding tourism because of its diverse and well-preserved culture; from the ‘Do Darya’ in Karachi and Gwadar Port in Balochistan to the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore and beautiful valleys of the north like Hunza and Sust. Every part of Pakistan has its own culture and language which makes it even more interesting.

Here s a quick glimpse at a wide range of tourist interest desinations and beauty, nature bestowed upon us and we are required to promote the charm to the tourists, explorers and travellers across the world to witness the enthralling sights from their eyes and appreciate the wonders of the Almighty: