ISLAMABAD: Rejecting the recent decision of the Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government to increase the royalty and mountaineering fee, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) on Saturday warned that foreign mountaineers will go to India and Nepal which had lower fees.

It said there will be severe consequences on local stakeholders. It demanded that the decision should be withdrawn, adding the association and other local organisations should be taken on board before taking such a decision.

It also demanded to establish a central tourism authority so that the interests of all stakeholders could be watched.

Speaking at a press conference at the National Press Club, PATO Chairman Niaz Ahmed said Pakistan is one of the countries which had the highest peaks in the world such as K2.

Accompanied with Senior Vice Chairman Nasir Hussain, Naik Naam Kareem and others, he said that Pakistan had over 100 peaks over 7000 metres high and it was a matter of great attraction for mountaineers from across the globe. He said that foreigners/mountaineers came to Pakistan and brought foreign exchange which was a great source of earning for the country.

“The government of GB has increased the fee and royalty for mountaineering which will create problems for both foreign mountaineers and local tour operators. If those additional expenses are shifted to the mountaineers, they will prefer to go to India or Nepal as these will be the cheaper options,” he said. He said that Nepal had already increased tourism because of its tourist friendly policies. “The decision has created difficulties for the local dealers, hotel owners, porters who will face financial losses as tourism will be affected,” he said.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024