THE provision of good motor roads and road services are important factors in the development of tourism and it is a matter of satisfaction that Khyber- Pakhtunkhwa is focusing on projects that ensure easy accessibility of tourists to the tourist attractions in the province.
Provincial government has approved construction of three road projects to the newly identified tourist spots in the province. These projects include forty eight kilometres Kalam-Kumrat Road, fifty two kilometres Thal Patrak-Tori Oba Road and fourteen kilometres Thal-Jazbanda Road. It has already approved another four road infrastructure projects for different tourist spots. It was also under the PTI previous tenure that the KP government completed the Swat Expressway project and it has now embarked on a plan to further expand it which will go a long way in providing easy access to tourists to the beautiful sites. Indeed the province has immense and diverse tourism potential ranging from picturesque to archaeological sites and by ensuring all sorts of facilities at the tourist spots, the province can attract the tourists in huge numbers which will be beneficial economically not only for the KP but the entire country. Incentives should also be given to the restaurants, hotels and tour operators to reap the true benefits of tourism which has also been hit by the Covid-19. We will also recommend the provincial government to prepare a complete database that provides updated and comprehensive information about tourism statistics such as number of tourists, their duration of stay, economic activities of tourists, tourism facilities, employment, etc. This will help the relevant authorities to make targeted policies and development plans. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, travel and tourism has grown over the last two decades to become one of the leading economic sectors in the world, driving socio-economic development and growth across the globe. Data shows that tourism has dramatically developed from a fledgling industry in the 1950s attracting a measly 25 million arrivals to quickly exploding to a 1 billion person arrival industry by 2012 and which, prior to Covid-19, was projected to almost double by the 2030s. In this backdrop, other provinces should also follow suit of the KP government and formulate policies that help attract tourists to their regions. It will also help project a true peaceful and soft image of Pakistan to the world.
