Pakistan was recently recognised as one of the world’s best tourist destinations for 2020 beating nineteen other destinations in the world, including the likes of Paris and Australia. In terms of domestic tourism, the country saw an unparalleled hike of 139% in tourists’ influx in the Galiyat region alone, as confirmed by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa recently.
Are there some hidden reasons related to such a remarkable boost in tourism that you should be aware of?
Read this blog to find out the actual reasons behind this attraction to Galiyat. However, before we begin, let us help you identify where the Galiyat region actually is, and the people managing this area.
Where is the Galiyat Region?
The Galiyat region [often spelled as Galliat or Galyat] is a hill area, the starting boundary if which is approximately 80 km away from Islamabad. The region includes some of the most significant hill stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that are present between Murree and Abbottabad. The destination mentioned below are a part of Galiyat region that you should include in your bucket list the next time you are planning a holiday in Pakistan:
- Nathia Gali
- Thandiani
- Ayubia
- Dunga Gali
- Khanaspur
- Khaira Gali
Who looks after the Galiyat Region?
Galiyat region falls under the jurisdiction of the Galiyat Development Authority (GDA). Established in 1999, as a succession body of Hazara Hill Tract Improvement Trust, the authority is a state-owned agency primarily responsible for encouraging, promoting, and developing ways to increase tourism in the mountainous regions and hill stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Meanwhile, the secondary responsibilities of the authority include raising finances through foreign currency and employment by projecting a positive outlook of the tourism industry of the country. Here are some other functions and responsibilities of the Galiyat Development Authority:
- The authority is responsible for creating such an environment that encourages tourism in the Galiyat region of Pakistan.
- The GDA maintains a balance between advancing tourism and preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the country.
- Development of tourist-friendly infrastructure and services for national and international tourists.
Moreover, the authority also looks after the accommodation of tourists by providing clean and well-maintained hotels and guest houses. You can easily book a room by either contacting them or visiting their official website.
Contact Information Galiyat Development Authority
Contact Number: +92-992-9310423
Email Address: COMPLAINT@GDA.GKP.PK
Website: https://gda.gkp.pk/
Now let’s continue where we left off and explore the reason why the Galiyat region received a massive influx of tourists in December 2019
Why Did the Galiyat Region Enjoy a Record Number of Tourists in December 2019?
The past week of January saw the government of KPK announcing December 2019 as the best month for the tourism industry in the Galiyat region over the past several years. Officials of the KP government confirmed that a remarkable number of both national and international tourists headed to the serene and beautiful hill stations of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to spend their vacations.
According to the official stats shared by the provincial government, the number of tourists in December 2018 was around 86,000, which increased by 139% in December 2019 to hit an unprecedented high of 200,000 visitors
The officials said that this amazing upsurge was a result of steadfast support from the federal government to the government of Khyber Pukhtunkhwa. As for contributing factors, they attributed the following factors to their success::
- Striking and Smart Tourist Campaigns: Logical and smart tourism-awareness campaigns have played a major role in improving tourism in the Galiyat region. These campaigns were backed by some of the smartest initiatives launched in recent times, including e-visa, mobile phone application for tourists in KPK, and camping pods.
- Upgraded Security Systems: Islamabad’s positive standing on the World Crime Index has left a significant impact on the tourism industry of its nearby regions. The federal capital has beaten major cities and was acknowledged to be safer than Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam, Sydney, and London. Along with being a safe city, Islamabad serves as a base for both national and international tourists. So, it is only natural for tourists to feel confident when they visit these regions with their families carrying valuable possessions.
- Smart Traffic Management: Owing to the efforts of the capital’s police, the traffic management system has been improved remarkably in comparison with last year. The respective authorities have worked tirelessly to clear the snow from the pathways, which has lent an overall positive outlook to the traffic management system.
- Extended Vacations: As per the findings of KPK officials, extended winter vacations gave a greater sense of relaxation to local tourists. This resulted in a greater number of families choosing to spend their holidays in the Galiyat region, for obvious reasons.
Considering all this, one can easily make sense of why the Galiyat region welcomed a recorded number of tourists in December 2019. Such small achievements combined have made Pakistan one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and an ideal destination for tourists.
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