ISLAMABAD, Jan 19: The tourism industry has been hit hard due to the precarious law and order situation, especially in Swat and adjoining areas, Babar Awan, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, informed the National Assembly on Monday.

“Yes, the government is noticing a downward trend in the revenue generated by the tourism industry, mainly due to fragile law and order conditions in Swat and its surrounding areas,” Mr Awan said.

An amount of Rs14 billion was generated through tourism from January to October in 2008, as against Rs16.842 billion in 2007, he said.

Asked whether tourists were harassed by law-enforcement agencies, like in India, the minister said that no such incident had been reported in Pakistan.

“We do have an IT-based system through which foreign tourists are adequately scrutinised,” he added.

Mr Awan said the government had taken a number of steps -- liberalisation of visa policy, launching of tourism research publications, upgradation of the ministry’s website and completion of seven tourism development projects -- to promote the industry.

He said an amount of Rs4 million was spent during 2008-09 to attract foreign tourists.

The Northern Areas’ chief secretary had been authorised to issue trekking permits to Chinese parties entering the area through Sust border, he said.