Key Indicators:
Inbound length of stay, Seasonality of international tourist arrivals, Concentration of interest in cultural attractions, Concentration of interest in nature attractions, Geographically dispersed tourism
Note: This pillar measures factors that may indicate the existence of, or risk related to, overcrowding, demand volatility and other potentially unsustainable demand trends.
This pillar Travel and Tourism Demand Sustainability evaluates various aspects of how sustainable and well-distributed travel and tourism demand is. According to the T&T Development Index 2024, Pakistan ranks 53 globally in this pillar, scoring 3.97 out of 7.[201]
The country performs notably well on the inbound length of stay indicator, which ranks 15 with a score of 6.82, indicating a strong performance in attracting tourists who stay longer. However, Pakistan’s seasonality of international tourist arrivals is a challenge, with a rank of 113 and no available score. This lack of data is due to potential issues such as insufficient mechanisms for recording domestic and international tourist arrivals or a lack of interest from authorities.
However, as the climbing season kicks off, hundreds of local and foreign climbers are flocking to Gilgit-Baltistan to scale eight-thousand-meter peaks, including K2. The Gilgit-Baltistan Tourism Department reports over 1,700 permits issued to foreign tourists for peak climbing in the region, with 175 specifically for K2 (8,611 meters),[202] highlighting significant seasonal fluctuations in tourist arrivals.
Regarding the concentration of interest in cultural attractions, Pakistan is positioned at 54 with a score of 2.93, reflecting moderate interest in its cultural offerings.
The concentration of interest in nature attractions fares slightly better, with a rank of 48 and a score of 3.45, showing a reasonable appeal of natural attractions to visitors. For geographically dispersed tourism, Pakistan ranks at 41 with a score of 4.16, indicating a fairly good distribution of tourism across different regions of the country.
Pakistan’s peak summer tourism in the northern regions is facing severe disruption due to climate change and extreme weather conditions. Recent relentless monsoon rains have caused extensive damage across the country, resulting in 250 casualties, widespread displacement, and the destruction of over 4,889 homes.[203] In Upper Dir, a major portion of the road to Kumrat Valley collapsed in May 2024, stranding tourists and affecting accessibility.[204] By August 2024, flash floods in Kumrat, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, caused extensive damage, destroying hotels, restaurants, and homes, and washing away the main road and connecting bridges.[205]
In Gilgit-Baltistan, rapid glacier melting and flash floods have severely impacted infrastructure. Floods have swept away bridges, damaged roads, and disconnected villages, with significant disruptions reported in Naltar Valley, Astore-Deosai Road, and Mahandri.[206]Pakistan has historically faced severe monsoon flooding, similar to events in 2010, and future projections suggest an increase in flood exposure from nearly 2 million people in 2010 to 5.7 million by 2030, according to WRI’s Aqueduct Floods tool. This escalating risk could affect the sustainability of travel and tourism demand by disrupting inbound tourism, seasonal travel patterns, and interest in cultural and natural attractions.[207] Given these climate-related disruptions, the government should focus on promoting winter tourism in southern Pakistan to offset the challenges posed by summer climate impacts and ensure more consistent tourism growth throughout the year.
While Pakistan has strengths in certain aspects of tourism demand sustainability, issues like seasonality and limited interest in cultural attractions require strategic attention. To maximize sustainable tourism potential, Pakistan must invest in robust infrastructure, simplify visa policies, promote its cultural and natural heritage, ensure safety and security, and foster public-private partnerships. Addressing these key areas can help Pakistan attract more visitors and establish itself as a sustainable tourism destination.[208]