GILGIT(National Times)- More than 2,200 foreign climbers and trekkers visited Gilgit-Baltistan during the summer season from April to August this year, a senior official of the GB Tourism Department said.
Sajid Hussain, deputy director of the GB Tourism Department, told Dawn that foreign adventurers visited the region to scale some of the world’s highest peaks and trek in restricted areas, including K2 (8,611 metres), Nanga Parbat (8,126m), Broad Peak (8,047m), Gasherbrum-I (8,080m) and Gasherbrum-II (8,035m).
The official added that a large number of foreign and domestic tourists were currently visiting popular destinations across Gilgit-Baltistan. Foreign tourists visiting open-zone areas do not require permits.
Officials said foreign tourists visiting GB’s tourist destinations and open-zone areas from multiple countries during the spring, summer and autumn seasons were expected to surpass 10,000 this year.
Mr Hussain said the number of foreign adventurers visiting GB this summer was higher than last year. The official said tensions following the US-Israel war on Iran, as well as a fuel price hike, had affected the influx of foreign and domestic tourists to GB last year.
Mr Hussain said the climbing season had now closed, although trekkers continued to visit restricted areas, including the K2 Base Camp trekking route. “The arrival of trekkers will continue until October,” he said.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government earned Rs350 million from expedition and trekking permits during the summer season up to June 30.
President of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, retired Major General Irfan Arshad Khan, told Dawn that the surge in international tourists this year, despite uncertainty in the Middle East, fluctuations in fuel prices and other factors, was encouraging.
“Tourism is a source of employment for the people of GB. Besides the revenue collected through trekking and mountaineering fees, local people, including porters, hotel owners, transporters and shopkeepers, benefit by millions of dollars directly from tourists,” he said.
“Following the war in the Middle East and the law-and-order situation in Pakistan after the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei during US and Israeli attacks on Iran, many countries issued advisories to their citizens against travelling to Pakistan. There were also delays in the issuance of permits for foreign climbers and trekkers. Otherwise, the number of foreign adventurers visiting GB would have been higher than 2,200,” Major General Irfan Arshad Khan said.
He said more than 4,000 foreign climbers and trekkers were expected to visit the region next year. He said the flaws causing delays in the issuance of permits to foreigners and other related issues would be resolved.
However, the summit success rate on major peaks in GB, including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II and Nanga Parbat, remained low because of snow avalanches, rockfalls, high winds and unpredictable weather conditions at high altitudes.
