The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced its decision to reopen tourist destinations across the province after Eid-ul-Azha.
According to Chief Minister KP Mahmood Khan, the provincial government has decided to reopen tourist destinations to revive the province’s tourism industry which employees millions of people and has been severely hampered by the COVID-19 outbreak and its resulting restrictions.
The development comes as earlier, Swat Hotel Association President Zahid Hussain had stated that the province’s tourism and hospitality industry is facing severe economic and financial crisis due to coronavirus lockdown restrictions and more than 3,000 people employed in 800 hotels have lost their jobs as businesses are unable to provide salaries.
Meanwhile, Galiyat Development Authority (GDA) Public Relation Officer Ihsan Hamid stated that before COVID-19 crisis, 150,000 tourists used to visit the region per month which then increases to 600,000 to 450,000 in summer, during the peak of tourist season, however, due to coronavirus lockdown around 175 hotels and eateries had to be closed due to severe financial crisis.
Read More: 30 motels to be shutdown, says PTDC
It is pertinent to know that Pakistan is set to host he World Tourism Forum next year to promote country’s tourism industry and its unlimited potential, especially among ‘Developing 8’ (D-8) countries.
The five-day event which will host more than 1,000 foreigners, was originally scheduled for this year but was then postponed till next year due to coronavirus crisis.