At the critical time after Hotel Attack in Gawadar... Dawn News Dubious Coulmnist writer Trying hard to prove that Pakistan is an Unsafe Country. Its Moderator posting Anti Pakistan Comments Many from Indians.
See Few Moderators Approved and posted comments at the bottom from Enemies of Pakistan and antipakistan Sentiments are usually approved and posted by the Dawn's Moderator who approves and posts comments, i mentioned in my comments some positive devolpment regarding tourism in response to the article in comment section but moderator did not post it as i was expecting as the moderator is posting mostly the comments which are against pakistan, see comments approved and posted by Dawn news moderator at the bottom and mostly are from Indian Audiances who are having bias against Pakistan:
The tourist trail
Irfan HusainMay 11, 2019
THE one consistent theme running through Imran Khan’s vision of Pakistan is his desire to turn the country into a major tourist destination.
This, he avers, would create millions of jobs and generate millions of dollars for the exchequer. If his dream could be turned into reality, nobody would argue about the potential benefits.
To achieve this goal, Khan’s government has taken a crucial first step by deciding to issue online visas for the nationals of a large number of countries. Others will be able to get visas on arrival. This is a progressive step, and is in sharp contrast with the cumbersome procedure in place under previous governments.
However, a change in visa policy is not all that’s required. First and foremost, a safe environment has to be created, something that has been sadly lacking in Pakistan for decades. Officials often repeat the mantra that the security situation is better now than it has been for some time. Perhaps the recent suicide attacks in Quetta and Lahore will make foreign tour operators think twice before they recommend Pakistan to their clients.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
When the horrifying terror attacks shook Sri Lanka recently, tourists fled in droves, and hoteliers are in shell-shock over the cancellations that have poured in. It is estimated that the island will lose around $1.5 billion, or a third of its expected earnings from tourism this year.
Even during the civil war that lasted 25 years, some hardy tourists were keen to explore the island. Since the war ended a decade ago, tourist numbers have been going up, with major investments flowing into the hospitality sector. New restaurants and hotels have sprung up, and at the lower end, many homes have been renting rooms to backpackers.
In short, the country was poised to become a major force in world tourism. The Rough Guide travel handbook had named it the top destination for 2019, and tourism was generating five per cent of GDP, making it Sri Lanka’s second biggest foreign exchange earner. It took just five near-simultaneous suicide attacks on Easter by murderous jihadists to destroy these dreams.
Pakistan is far more vulnerable to attacks from Muslim extremists. The recent atrocities in Sri Lanka happened after over 10 years from previous acts of terrorism. We, on the other hand, attract the violent attention of jihadists the way honey does bees. As Hillary Clinton famously said during her brief visit to Islamabad as secretary of state: “If you keep vipers in your garden, don’t be surprised if you get bitten.”
Even though Imran Khan and the army chief have said the establishment will no longer tolerate or support extremists, there is a wide gap between good intentions and actually enforcing them. Militants who have been on the gravy train for years will be reluctant to disband and give up the high life they have enjoyed off donations and official largesse.
Leaving aside security, let us examine the other factors needed to attract tourists. Foreigners, especially women, have often complained of being gawked at in the streets. Actually, this also happens to Pakistani girls and women. But we can imagine the reaction of local men to the sight of bikini-clad Western women on our beaches.
We have often boasted of our sandy shores, but we can’t expect foreign tourists to keep covered up in order “to respect local customs”. If we insist, we can forget about foreigners visiting Pakistan on family holidays.
On the Sri Lankan beach where I spend much of the winter, the local villagers are conservative, but accept the presence of scantily clad foreign women. The government has created units of ‘tourist police’ to ensure security for overseas visitors. The government and people of Sri Lanka are aware of the importance of tourism for the country, and behave accordingly.
Such a consensus does not exist in today’s Pakistan. Here, a violent version of religion makes the country a frightening place for foreigners. For years, televised images of screaming, bearded men have etched an unflattering image of Pakistani society among our target audience of potential tourists.
Far from projecting Pakistani culture as tolerant, civilised and vibrant, we have come across as a harsh, monochrome and violent society. Our women are viewed as subjugated, and our minorities as victims of institutionalised oppression.
Whether flawed or not, this is the prism through which Pakistan is viewed across much of the world. We can argue all we like about this picture being false, but perceptions are not easy to change.
Aasia Bibi’s long ordeal has revealed more about Pakistan to foreigners than any number of promotional campaigns.
[email protected]
Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019
See Moderators Approved and posted comments at the bottom from Enemies of Pakistan :
1)
Raju
about 21 hours ago
Well balance narated what is going on and what should be done.....
Good article sir. Thanks from India.
2)
Shiva
about 23 hours ago
It is always a treat to read your articles sir
3)
Chinmay Sharma
about 21 hours ago
Very well written Sir, one of the big fans from India. In fact rarely miss your articles in dawn
4)
Anand Mohan
about 20 hours ago
Precise and to the point. According to WTTC, tourism is a Driver of Peace. A sustainable and open tourism sector brings about a higher level of positive peace: namely the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. The more sustainable a country’s tourism sector, the lower the country’s level of violence and conflict is likely to be. With the above points in mind, Pakistan, certainly have to look inwards to the make changes. As an Indian expatriate in the Middle East, I get the opportunity to mingle with the wonderful people from Pakistan. Except for the borders of the maps, I fail to find any differences with my neighbors. However, there are those elements in both our countries who I would say are selfish. When they ruin their reputation through their actions, the countries they represent gets impacted. The approach to tourism is far more than open visas. We need brand ambassadors in every citizen. And that I say is the best promotion.
5)
RationalBabu
about 18 hours ago
Even some developing African countries attract more tourists than Pakistan! Think about it guys!
6)
Vikas
about 18 hours ago
A relaxed visa policy is one thing. The fact is that most people fear a stamp of Pakistani visa on their passports. It leads to immense problems entering a lot of countries where they don’t need visa but just lend up.
7)
Rajesh
about 17 hours ago
Good relationship with India will open the door to tourism and lot of other opportunities. Once Indians visited in thousands for a cricket match at Lahore.
8)
Dipankar Sarkar
about 15 hours ago
hats off to writer
9)
Subhi
about 15 hours ago
Hats off to the writer. Not many has the guts to pen the facts and the only reason to do this, I guess to bring in the required changes where it is due. Cosmetic changes will not help for sure.
Source
https://www.dawn.com/news/1481618/the-tourist-trail
See Few Moderators Approved and posted comments at the bottom from Enemies of Pakistan and antipakistan Sentiments are usually approved and posted by the Dawn's Moderator who approves and posts comments, i mentioned in my comments some positive devolpment regarding tourism in response to the article in comment section but moderator did not post it as i was expecting as the moderator is posting mostly the comments which are against pakistan, see comments approved and posted by Dawn news moderator at the bottom and mostly are from Indian Audiances who are having bias against Pakistan:
The tourist trail
Irfan HusainMay 11, 2019
THE one consistent theme running through Imran Khan’s vision of Pakistan is his desire to turn the country into a major tourist destination.
This, he avers, would create millions of jobs and generate millions of dollars for the exchequer. If his dream could be turned into reality, nobody would argue about the potential benefits.
To achieve this goal, Khan’s government has taken a crucial first step by deciding to issue online visas for the nationals of a large number of countries. Others will be able to get visas on arrival. This is a progressive step, and is in sharp contrast with the cumbersome procedure in place under previous governments.
However, a change in visa policy is not all that’s required. First and foremost, a safe environment has to be created, something that has been sadly lacking in Pakistan for decades. Officials often repeat the mantra that the security situation is better now than it has been for some time. Perhaps the recent suicide attacks in Quetta and Lahore will make foreign tour operators think twice before they recommend Pakistan to their clients.
ARTICLE CONTINUES AFTER AD
When the horrifying terror attacks shook Sri Lanka recently, tourists fled in droves, and hoteliers are in shell-shock over the cancellations that have poured in. It is estimated that the island will lose around $1.5 billion, or a third of its expected earnings from tourism this year.
Travel advisories issued by the foreign ministries of a number of countries means that insurance cover will be null and void should tourists still visit Sri Lanka. This alone would discourage all but the most determined travellers. And this is happening in a country that is a much-loved tourist destination.
Even during the civil war that lasted 25 years, some hardy tourists were keen to explore the island. Since the war ended a decade ago, tourist numbers have been going up, with major investments flowing into the hospitality sector. New restaurants and hotels have sprung up, and at the lower end, many homes have been renting rooms to backpackers.
In short, the country was poised to become a major force in world tourism. The Rough Guide travel handbook had named it the top destination for 2019, and tourism was generating five per cent of GDP, making it Sri Lanka’s second biggest foreign exchange earner. It took just five near-simultaneous suicide attacks on Easter by murderous jihadists to destroy these dreams.
Pakistan is far more vulnerable to attacks from Muslim extremists. The recent atrocities in Sri Lanka happened after over 10 years from previous acts of terrorism. We, on the other hand, attract the violent attention of jihadists the way honey does bees. As Hillary Clinton famously said during her brief visit to Islamabad as secretary of state: “If you keep vipers in your garden, don’t be surprised if you get bitten.”
Even though Imran Khan and the army chief have said the establishment will no longer tolerate or support extremists, there is a wide gap between good intentions and actually enforcing them. Militants who have been on the gravy train for years will be reluctant to disband and give up the high life they have enjoyed off donations and official largesse.
Leaving aside security, let us examine the other factors needed to attract tourists. Foreigners, especially women, have often complained of being gawked at in the streets. Actually, this also happens to Pakistani girls and women. But we can imagine the reaction of local men to the sight of bikini-clad Western women on our beaches.
We have often boasted of our sandy shores, but we can’t expect foreign tourists to keep covered up in order “to respect local customs”. If we insist, we can forget about foreigners visiting Pakistan on family holidays.
On the Sri Lankan beach where I spend much of the winter, the local villagers are conservative, but accept the presence of scantily clad foreign women. The government has created units of ‘tourist police’ to ensure security for overseas visitors. The government and people of Sri Lanka are aware of the importance of tourism for the country, and behave accordingly.
Such a consensus does not exist in today’s Pakistan. Here, a violent version of religion makes the country a frightening place for foreigners. For years, televised images of screaming, bearded men have etched an unflattering image of Pakistani society among our target audience of potential tourists.
Far from projecting Pakistani culture as tolerant, civilised and vibrant, we have come across as a harsh, monochrome and violent society. Our women are viewed as subjugated, and our minorities as victims of institutionalised oppression.
Whether flawed or not, this is the prism through which Pakistan is viewed across much of the world. We can argue all we like about this picture being false, but perceptions are not easy to change.
Aasia Bibi’s long ordeal has revealed more about Pakistan to foreigners than any number of promotional campaigns.
[email protected]
Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2019
See Moderators Approved and posted comments at the bottom from Enemies of Pakistan :
1)
Raju
about 21 hours ago
Well balance narated what is going on and what should be done.....
Good article sir. Thanks from India.
2)
Shiva
about 23 hours ago
It is always a treat to read your articles sir
3)
Chinmay Sharma
about 21 hours ago
Very well written Sir, one of the big fans from India. In fact rarely miss your articles in dawn
4)
Anand Mohan
about 20 hours ago
Precise and to the point. According to WTTC, tourism is a Driver of Peace. A sustainable and open tourism sector brings about a higher level of positive peace: namely the attitudes, institutions, and structures that create and sustain peaceful societies. The more sustainable a country’s tourism sector, the lower the country’s level of violence and conflict is likely to be. With the above points in mind, Pakistan, certainly have to look inwards to the make changes. As an Indian expatriate in the Middle East, I get the opportunity to mingle with the wonderful people from Pakistan. Except for the borders of the maps, I fail to find any differences with my neighbors. However, there are those elements in both our countries who I would say are selfish. When they ruin their reputation through their actions, the countries they represent gets impacted. The approach to tourism is far more than open visas. We need brand ambassadors in every citizen. And that I say is the best promotion.
5)
RationalBabu
about 18 hours ago
Even some developing African countries attract more tourists than Pakistan! Think about it guys!
6)
Vikas
about 18 hours ago
A relaxed visa policy is one thing. The fact is that most people fear a stamp of Pakistani visa on their passports. It leads to immense problems entering a lot of countries where they don’t need visa but just lend up.
7)
Rajesh
about 17 hours ago
Good relationship with India will open the door to tourism and lot of other opportunities. Once Indians visited in thousands for a cricket match at Lahore.
8)
Dipankar Sarkar
about 15 hours ago
hats off to writer
9)
Subhi
about 15 hours ago
Hats off to the writer. Not many has the guts to pen the facts and the only reason to do this, I guess to bring in the required changes where it is due. Cosmetic changes will not help for sure.
Source
https://www.dawn.com/news/1481618/the-tourist-trail
