With development of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), improvement of the infrastructure and the security situation, and especially when the novel coronavirus pneumonia is effectively controlled, Pakistan’s eco-tourism will definitely develop greatly in the days to come.
This was stated in a report published by Gwadar Pro on Monday, quoting Prof. Cheng Xizhong, China’s former Defense Attache in South Asian countries.
According to Prof. Cheng, there are various ways and means to further develop the tourism sector. First, Pakistan’s tourism industry is now at the participation stage of the development life cycle of tourist destinations, so a good job should be done in market segmentation and attraction of foreign adventure tourists.
Second, Pakistan’s security situation has gradually improved in recent years. The Pakistani government should consolidate its achievements in fighting terrorism and maintaining stability. In particular, Pakistan’s security agencies should further strengthen the security protection of foreign projects and personnel, so as to give foreign tourists a strong sense of safety. Third, resolute measures should be taken to control the spread of the second wave of Covid-19. Novel coronavirus pneumonia is a serious disaster in South Asia.
Now, more than 7.45 million confirmed cases have been diagnosed in India, and the death toll has exceeded 110 thousand. The number of confirmed cases will soon surpass that of the United States and India will become the most serious pandemic country in the world. Obviously, India has completely failed to control the pandemic. Bangladesh, with a population of 160 million, has more than 380,000 confirmed cases with nearly 6000 deaths. Nepal, with a population of only 27 million, has nearly 130,000 confirmed cases.
By contrast, Pakistan’s prevention and control measures are very strong and effective. Especially with the implementation of smart lockdown and standard operating procedures (SOP), Pakistan has successfully managed to control the spread of Covid-19. The pandemic has a fatal impact on the tourism industry. Therefore, the government of Pakistan should continue to take resolute and effective measures to prevent the new wave of pandemic spread.
Prof Cheng Xizhong added that he strongly believes that Pakistan has great potential to develop eco-tourism. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2019, the contribution rate of tourism industry to Pakistan’s GDP was 5.9%, creating 3.9 million jobs. According to my calculation, if Pakistan’s tourism industry develops to the level of China, its contribution rate to Pakistan’s GDP will increase by 5.1% to 11%, and additional 2.37 million jobs will be created.
