Gilgit, Pakistan: Tourism in the picturesque region of Gilgit-Baltistan has suffered an unprecedented decline, with a 90% drop in visitors reported this year. The severe downturn is attributed to a combination of climate disasters and global conflicts, heavily impacting the local economy that thrives on tourism.
According to Sajid Hussain, assistant director of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Tourism Department, only 270 international climbers made their way to the region this year to take on iconic peaks such as K2 and Nanga Parbat. Comparatively, over 2,000 climbers and trekkers had visited last year. Unfortunately, extreme weather conditions, including rockfalls, avalanches, and high winds, thwarted many climbers’ attempts, forcing them to retreat from the base camps without achieving their goals.
Iqbal Hussain, director at the GB Tourism Department, shared deep concerns about the situation. Last year saw 24,000 foreign tourists without permits and over a million domestic tourists exploring the region. This year, however, the number of both international and domestic tourists has plunged drastically.
Tour operator Asghar Ali Porik explained that several factors deterred foreign adventure tourists. The ongoing legal dispute over permit fee hikes, coupled with international issues like tensions between Iran and Israel and India and Pakistan, have discouraged many from visiting. Additionally, unpredictable weather conditions have been a significant deterrent.
Along the Karakoram Highway, a local tea stall owner described the distressing change. Traditionally bustling with tourists from May to October, his business is now witnessing days without a single customer.
The economic impact has been widespread, affecting hotel owners, shopkeepers, transporters, and artisans alike. Haider Abbas, who owns Gilgit Looms, expressed his struggles with the sharp decline, noting the difficulties in meeting expenses like rent and salaries despite heavy investment in his business.
The situation highlights a critical need for adaptive measures to revive tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan and support the livelihoods dependent on this sector as climate challenges and global conflicts loom large.
