Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has seen a remarkable surge in tourism this year, with tourist numbers doubling compared to last year. This positive development was reviewed in a meeting led by Muzamil Aslam, the Chief Minister’s Finance Advisor.
The meeting, which included Tourism Advisor Zahid Chanzeb, Provincial Assembly Member Iftikhar Muhammad Khan Jadoon, Secretary Tourism Muhammad Bakhtiar Khan, and Chief Planning Officer Tourism Syed Zain Ali Shah, noted that about 9 million tourists visited KP between May and July, up from 4.5 million last year. Among them were around 2,500 international tourists who visited the province’s hill stations for the cooler weather.
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Muzamil Aslam praised the Tourism Department for its role in this increase, attributing it to better security and improved facilities. He stressed the significance of these enhancements in presenting KP as a safe and appealing destination.
Notable tourist influxes were recorded in Swat (260,000 visitors), Galiyat (350,000), and Chitral and Kaghan (approximately 250,000 each).
Despite the successes, Aslam voiced concerns about complaints regarding the National Highway Authority (NHA), promising to address these with NHA officials for improved tourist services.
Looking forward, Aslam called for ongoing efforts to boost winter tourism and announced plans to establish four new tourist zones in Chitral and Mansehra next year, aiming to enhance the region’s tourism appeal.
