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Pakistan makes it to Forbes list of best under the radar places to visit in 2020

Pakistan makes it to Forbes list of best under the radar places to visit in 2020

Could this be the year Pakistan sees a surge in international tourists?
Updated 07 Jan, 2020

It's official. Pakistan is all set to become a must-visit destination for travellers and tourists looking for something new, something different in 2020. A recent Forbes article includes Pakistan in its The Not Hot List: 10 Best Under-the-Radar Trips for 2020.

The American magazine wrote, "Closed countries are opening up. Savvy luxury agencies are making remote destinations accessible to travellers who don’t want to rough it or risk much." The list features other countries such as Armenia, Chad, Eritrea, Guatemala, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia among others.

Interestingly, the criterion for the list was based on a newly discovered but essential need of many modern tourists: “Where can we go to avoid other tourists?” The magazine points out that many travel agencies and local tour guides "have learned to bring less obvious, undertouristed places to life in a way that yields the kind of insights you might expect from their overtouristed equivalents."

“Pakistan is perhaps the ultimate adventure travel destination,” says Jonny , founder of Wild Frontiers. “It offers ancient Indus civilizations stretching back 4,000 years, and exciting cities like Lahore with its forts, mosques and palaces. But most of all, it offers incredible scenery, particularly in the north where the three greatest mountain ranges collide. Pakistan is great for trekking, mountain biking, rafting or just cultural tourism. The infrastructure has also improved, with resurfaced roads and new tunnels cutting down travel time, new luxury hotels are opening up in the region.”

Just last month, Pakistan made it to Condé Nast Traveller's list of best holiday destinations for 2020. And while it's clear that an improved security situation has revived the tourism industry, its really the country's natural beauty and diverse cultures that attract local and foreign tourists alike. In addition, British Backpackers Society (BBS) had declared Pakistan as the world’s third-highest potential adventure destination for 2020.

Sadly, Pakistan still lags behind neighbours in the region and was ranked the least competitive country in South Asia last year when it comes to travel and tourism by the World Economic Forum.

No doubt Pakistan has unparalleled beauty, but what it lacks is a structure that can facilitate tourism— more importantly, what it needs are stricter laws and policies that can safeguard our natural sites and historical landmarks from the onslaught of overtourism.

Comments

rohete Jan 07, 2020 11:41am
Slowly but surely Pakistan is on right track :)
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MA Jan 07, 2020 12:23pm
Gorgeous Pakistan.
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Abbas Jan 07, 2020 12:40pm
Thats a great news. Pakistan Northern Areas are a true heaven for tourists from around the world.
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Parvez Jan 07, 2020 01:13pm
Slow and steady ..... but what seriously needs to be upgraded to attract the foreign tourist are the facilities especially the public toilets and the overall cleanliness of areas frequented by tourists ( today mainly locals who seriously need to be schooled in not destroying the area ).
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Illawarrior Jan 07, 2020 01:18pm
Almost every country has natural beauty and friendly locals and Pakistan is certainly no exception, but tourist facilities and infrastructure are poor, corruption and misogyny abound and security is a serious concern. It won't be on my list of destinations. There are enough other beautiful places that are more welcoming and accessible.
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Zulu Jan 07, 2020 01:51pm
Need to improve access, hospitality, connectivity and perception about safety & security to attract masses.
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Arif Jan 07, 2020 02:29pm
Mst build drivable Roads in the Northern Areas , for easy access. Must be like roads to Murree and Abbottabad
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Saira Jan 07, 2020 03:01pm
And further we will go, inshAllah!
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M. Saeed Jan 07, 2020 07:05pm
Now, it is time to accept the reality why Alexander the Great visited the northern areas of Pakistan and why so many of his soldiers settled here instead of returning home.
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Saad Razzaq Jan 07, 2020 08:37pm
Inshallah the day will come when we will become one of the best tourist destinations in the world and that will bring so much of investments that we don't have to ask any country for loans. I know wishful thinking but nothing is impossible. We need to realize our potential and work towards the common goal.
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Anonymouseee Jan 07, 2020 11:30pm
Beautiful Pakistan.
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ZAMAN NOOR Jan 08, 2020 01:32am
Pakistan is the best..... great nation great people.......
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Pak Mega Place (www.pakmegaplace.com) Jan 08, 2020 12:32pm
Pakistan is great for tourism. (Awesome Pakistan)
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Samad sheikh Jan 09, 2020 11:05am
Here is the natural beauty hidden from the world
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S.A.Khan GB Jan 10, 2020 01:34am
The reason I like visiting Pakistan in Winter is a Kebab Shop on a very crowded Street, Buns Road in Karachi . It minced threaded kebab is unique in texture and taste
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