Article by: Ms Irum Fawad President/WPO Womenprenuer Pakistan Organization.
On the occasion of the 75th Independence Day Celebration, it is my immense honour to express my services and work that we have been conducting throughout the year as President WPO is privileged to collaborate with Travel Explorer Magazine to express my gratitude towards this Excellence tourism work and services to entire Pakistan.
According to the 2021 report of the World Travel & Tourism Council, travel and tourism contributed $8.8 billion, approximately 2.9% of the total GDP of Pakistan, in 2017. By 2019, the total GDP contribution of tourism to Pakistan was $15 billion which accounts for 5.7% of the total GDP. With more than one billion tourists travelling to an international destination every year, tourism has become a leading economic sector, contributing 9.8% of the global GDP and representing 7% of the world’s total exports.
Talking about tourism we must not forget the importance of SDGs in the United nation agenda 2030. Tourism can help raise the living standards of the host people through the economic benefits it can bring to an area. In addition, by developing infrastructure and providing recreation facilities, both tourists and local people benefit. Ideally, tourism should be developed that is appropriate to the destination. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aim to end poverty, protect the planet, and achieve prosperity for all by bringing together policymakers, academia, practitioners, and all other relevant tourism stakeholders and providing policy and strategic engagement guidelines.
As tourism is the fastest-growing sector of the global economy, examining the connections between tourism and the SDGs is relevant to both developing and developed countries. This study explores the Pakistani tourism industry’s role in addressing the SDGs from the perspective of various tourism stakeholders (academia, the government, the private tourism industry, and public-private organizations). To present a comprehensive picture, this study employed a case study approach. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with tourism industry stakeholders. The findings suggest that, to varying degrees, the SDGs are applicable as well as achievable for Pakistan.
However, several issues may impede the full implementation of these goals. The implications of these findings are discussed in the paper. But we are glad to know that the Government & especially Prime Minister‘s self-interest Pakistan has achieved a lot of goals. As per the Pandemic, the country is prohibited a few days ago but then the tourism industry opened gates for inland tourism to explore the beauty of north, south, west and east of many different breathtaking places .
Many companies like Travel Explorer, Walnut Tour Travels Company etc.. have started giving economical packages and are campaigning for inland tourism. In support of Tourism, not only our own people but also our foreign friends want to explore Pakistan. The revenue only this year in the summer of 2021 from the northern area has not only prospered the Government but also has provided opportunities for business development in those mountainous valleys. In support every year a huge conference on Tourism will be happening soon in Karachi. As Encouraging women to take training and come up with a few good designations in this field to proper our own country.
