Importance of Peace for the Promotion of Tourism in Pakistan

According to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Pakistan is among the top twenty-five percent of global destinations for its World Heritage Sites like Mohan-jo-Daro, Taxila, Takht-i-Bahi, Rohtas Fort, Lahore Fort, and Makli Hills. Besides, the world’s most beautiful landscapes of the world in Gilgit-Baltistan, Skardu, Chitral, and Sawat valley. Jaglot in Gilgit is the junction of three mightiest mountain ranges, the Himalaya, Karakorum and Hindukush, and Pakistan’s K-2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest. On the other hand, on religious tourism side Pakistan contains the most sacred places of Sikh religion like Kartarpur sahib, Nankana Sahib, Punja Sahib and for Buddhists Bhirmound, Sirkap, Sirsukh, Dharmarajika Stupa, Kunala Stupa, Mohra Moradu Stupa, Julian Stupa, Jandial Temple, and Taxila; for the Hindus Katas Raj temple, Shiv Mandir and Sadh Belo Sukkur. Despite all this Pakistan fails to attract as much attention of the international tourists as it should. We all know peace and tourism go hand in hand. Without peace, tourism is not possible. Therefore, peace and security in Pakistan holds the key for attracting tourists. In this paper, an attempt is made to study how the absence of peace has destroyed tourism in Pakistan and what Pakistan has done in last decade to bring internal peace which has improved the overall image of Pakistan and has boosted the tourism industry in Pakistan.