Unprecedented climate disasters coupled with other challenges have triggered a steep decline in tourism to Gilgit-Baltistan this year, leaving the local economy reeling.

Officials revealed that international conflicts, natural calamities, and related issues have caused a 90 percent drop in tourist inflows to the region.

Only 270 foreign climbers came this year to attempt peaks including K2, Broad Peak, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Nanga Parbat, according to Sajid Hussain, assistant director at the GB Tourism Department. 

This is a significant decrease from the more than 2,000 foreign trekkers and climbers who visited last year.

He emphasized that many climbers were unable to accomplish their objectives due to severe weather conditions at the peaks. They were forced to stop their expeditions and stay in base camps before going home due to avalanches, rockfalls, and powerful winds.

According to department figures, 40 climbers made it to the top of K2 this season, 25 made it to Nanga Parbat, and about a dozen managed to climb Gasherbrum-I.

Iqbal Hussain, director at the GB Tourism Department, told an English daily that last year 24,000 foreign tourists without permits visited the region, along with one million domestic travelers. “This year, the situation is alarming as tourist arrivals, both international and domestic, have declined by 90 percent,” he said. 

According to tour operator Asghar Ali Porik, several factors were behind the drastic reduction in foreign adventure tourists. “The legal battle between the GB To­­urism Department and tour operators over the hike in permit fees, the Iran-Israel conflict, tensions between Pakistan and India, and unpredictable we­ather conditions at peaks compelled many forei­gn climbers and trekkers to cancel their plans,” he noted.

The slump has also left small businesses along the Karakoram Highway struggling. A tea stall owner said, “I have never experienced such a situation where you can go the whole day without a single client and return home empty-handed.”

Hotel owners, shopkeepers, transporters, porters, and tour operators are facing similar losses.Gilgit Looms owner Haider Abbas claimed that his business had suffered greatly. He went on to say that despite having spent billions of rupees, he was now having trouble paying staff salaries and shop rent.