IN THIS POST
– Integrated Tourism Zones
– Establishing Tourist Resorts
– New Tourist Attractions
– Value-Added Services
– Summer Activities and Vibrant Festivals
– Tourist Facilitation Hub
– Infrastructure Development
Nestled in the enchanting green valley between the snow-covered peaks of mighty mountain ranges, the unparalleled beauty of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has made it the top tourist destination in Pakistan. Every year, hundreds of thousands of domestic as well as foreign tourists make their way to this veritable piece of heaven on earth to sightsee and relax, away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Owing to the infrastructure development and promotional campaigns by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), tourism in KPK has significantly increased over the past few years.
However, as the tourism industry across the world continues to grapple with an unprecedented pandemic, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has put together a comprehensive plan that will undoubtedly help boost tourism in the region. The Summer Plan 2021 not only focuses on establishing new tourist resorts and developing new tourist attractions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also aims to organize more sports activities and cultural festivals in the upcoming months.
According to leading media outlets, the Summer Plan 2021 was finalized during a recent meeting that was held to explore the progress of the provincial government on various initiatives. KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired the meeting while Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Zulfiqar Bukhari, Secretary Tourism Abid Majeed, Managing Director of KP Tourism and Culture Authority Junaid Khan, Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Intikhab Alam, and other officials were in attendance.
How Will the Summer Plan 2021 Promote Tourism in KPK?
Let’s take a look at what the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has in store for the tourists planning to visit the northern areas of Pakistan this summer.
Integrated Tourism Zones
In a bid to boost tourism in KPK, the government has planned to establish Integrated Tourism Zones in the province in partnership with the World Bank (WB). The projects in Mankial, Swat and Thandiani, Abbottabad will reportedly be completed on a priority basis by May of this year.
Establishing Tourist Resorts
The attendees of the meeting were also brief about the establishment of tourist resorts in the province. According to the reports, the work on five tourist destinations in KPK is in progress. The projects are being constructed at Sheikh Badin, Garam Chashma, and Sholozan along with Takht-e-Sulaiman, Takht-i-Bahi – two of the most well-known archaeological sites in KPK. The resorts are being developed under the Federal Public Sector Development.
KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan advised the concerned officials to ensure timely completion of these tourist resorts to facilitate the travellers during the busy summer season.
New Tourist Attractions
There is no shortage of tourist attractions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. After Pakistan beat 19 countries to bag the title of ‘Best Holiday Destination for 2020,’ this region gained even more traction, attracting adventure seekers and travellers from all around the globe.
However, to promote tourism in KPK, the concerned authorities have identified six waterfalls that will be developed into tourist spots as part of the Summer Plan 2021. The work on these sites is expected to be completed by June.
The waterfalls that will be turned into new tourist destinations in KPK include:
- Jarugo in Swat
- Sajikot in Abbottabad
- Umbrella in Abbottabad
- Nori in Haripur
- Chajian in Haripur
- Lamchar in Upper Dir
Value-Added Services
Thanks to modern technology, you don’t need a guide or a physical map to travel the world. In fact, all you need is a smartphone and Google Maps to be able to explore new places. Therefore, to promote tourism in KPK, all tourist attractions in the region have been geo-tagged. This means all popular places to visit in KPK will now appear on Google Maps to facilitate domestic and foreign travellers alike.
Moreover, mobile applications and websites have also been developed to guide tourists about various tourist attractions in KPK along with information about hotels, resorts, camping equipment and other services.
Summer Activities and Vibrant Festivals
The colourful and vibrant cultural festivals in Pakistan draw a large number of tourists every year. Therefore, the Summer Plan 2021 also focuses on promoting different sports and cultural festivities to promote tourism in KPK.
The list of major festivals included in the Summer Plan 2021 are:
- Shandur Polo Festival
- Chelum Jusht Festival
- Hazara Musical Festival
- Naran Festival
- Qaqlasht Festival
- Kailash Ochau Festival
- Kurram Festival
- Dera Jaat Festival
- Tour de Khyber Cycling Race
- 4×4 Trans Himalayan Rally
- Mountain Bike Rally
Tourist Facilitation Hub
Earlier this year, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority made headlines for launching a Tourist Facilitation Hub with the first-ever toll-free helpline ‘1422.’ This round-the-clock tourist helpline has been launched to promote tourism in KPK as it will provide the travellers with the latest weather updates, nearby tourist attractions, information about traffic, online bookings and payments, emergency services, available utilities and much more.
Infrastructure Development
According to the reports, the attendees of the meeting were also informed about the progress of various projects, such as Mahodand Lake, Hund Water Theme Park, Nowshera Motor Sports Arena, Kumrat Cable Car, Buddha Corridor, and Ayubia Chairlift. They were also briefed about the work on camping pods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa along with the development of tourist facilities on different dams.
Through this Summer Plan 2021, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa aims to attract a large number of tourists to the region this year.
If you are also planning to take a break from your hectic schedule and spend some time surrounded by nature, consider taking a trip to the northern areas of Pakistan for a memorable trip. To make a perfect itinerary, please check out the following guides:
- The Most Beautiful Hill Stations in Pakistan
- How to Plan a Road Trip from Islamabad to Khunjerab Pass
- Must-Visit Places in the Picturesque Galiyat Region
- Incredible Vacation Spots in Pakistan to Explore in 2021
- Best Camping Sites in Pakistan
To learn more about tourism in Pakistan and picnic spots in KPK, stay tuned to Zameen Blog – the best lifestyle and real estate blog in the country. You can also share your comments and feedback with us at blog@zameen.com.
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