PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan has been waiting for spring to arrive, not only because its people are already weary from cold, but also as the season of bloom brings tourists. This time, however, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic is likely to shatter their anticipation and upend the livelihood of the whole region.
“More than 100 international groups have canceled their trip reservations over the virus threat,” Ikram Murhammad Baig, president of Gilgit-Baltistan Tour Operators Association, told Arab News on Thursday.
Hotel bookings for the spring season, Baig said, were made already some half a year ago, mostly by tourists from Malaysia, Canada, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Europe. However, the global coronavirus outbreak has “has now canceled spring in Gilgit-Baltistan.”
The northern area is known for its scenic mountainous landscapes, which are attractive tourist destinations and one of the main sources of the region’s revenue.
According to Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Minister Fida Khan, the cancelations will have a long-term negative impact on the region’s economy.
“International tourists have canceled their bookings due to which hotels are completely empty. This situation is badly affecting the economy,” he said, but added it was too early to assess the scale of the losses.
“We were expecting around 10,000 international tourists during the spring season in Gilgit Baltistan,” Sadruddin Hunazi, secretary general of Pakistan Tour Operators Association, told Arab News on Friday, adding that sectors related to tourism and hospitality may lose millions of rupees due to the cancelations.
While the economic threat to the region is obvious, Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority deputy director Zaheer ud Din Babar told Arab News that at the moment the government’s “focus is on saving human lives,” as the whole world is introducing travel restrictions to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
As they express understanding for the measures, residents also hope some financial relief will come from the government.
“The government’s travel restrictions are a step to protect the maximum number of people from the virus,” said Jaffar Hussain from Gilgit city, but added that the wellbeing of the majority of region’s 2 million population is linked to tourism-related activities. “If the situation persists, the government must intervene to save the people in the area and the tourism industry,” he said.
Arshad Ali, a local tour guide, said that for the past three years the tourism and handicraft sectors in Gilgit-Baltistan have been flourishing and had good earning potential.
“I was planning to build my house with this year’s earnings, but now I have to postpone my plans,” he said.
In January, Forbes added Pakistan to its list of must-visit places in 2020, following the government’s efforts to revive tourism, including visas on arrival to visitors from 50 countries and easy electronic applications for others.
While last year was particularly good for the country’s promotion, with a number of royal visits, including that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in October and of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in February last year, this season presents a bleak picture amid the ongoing epidemic.
