One of the world’s best travel portals, Traveller by Condè Nast, has rated Pakistan as the number one holiday destination for 2020.
The list is compiled by CN Traveller’s “well-travelled editors for the places they’re most excited about – in this instance not just for the next 12 months, but heading into a new decade.”
According to the authors, Pakistan is “the adventure traveller’s must-visit” destination.
Writing about the country, the award-winning magazine said, “Thwarted by tales of terrorism and Taliban rule, Pakistan’s tourism industry has been stymied for the past two decades. But ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions and a high-profile royal visit in the offing mean this remarkable country is finally getting the focus it deserves.”
It further read, “Because this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains. In fact, Pakistan has more peaks taller than 22,965ft than China and Nepal combined, making it an almost magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid hikers.”
“Visitors can follow in Michael Palin’s steps while traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo field, or meet with the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery. In Lahore, the sight of 100,000 worshippers crammed into the sandstone 17th-century Badshahi Mosque will leave you breathless, while Mughal-era architectural masterpieces stand resplendent on bustling street corners.”
Founder and CEO of adventure-tour operator Wild Frontiers Jonny Bealby said that Pakistan’s improving tourism was because of “a focus on security measures and the election of Imran Khan, who has vowed to increase international tourist numbers.”
Meanwhile, the royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has also boosted Pakistan’s image as a popular tourist destination.
It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI government is making strong efforts to boost tourism in the country that will not only spread the soft image of Pakistan but also it will also bring the revenue into the country – the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is proof of that.
Other destinations that featured on the list include Kyoto (Japan), Rijeka (Croatia), Panam, Rabat (Morocco) British Virgin Islands, Frisian Islands, Denmark, Qingdao (China), Lebanon, Portland (Maine, US), Dakar (Senegal), Egadi Islands (Sicily), Paris (France), Siargao (Philippines), Galway (Ireland), Kangaroo Island (Australia), Salvador (Brazil), Armenia (Kyrgyzstan) and Plymouth (UK).
Previously, UK publication The Independent also wrote that travel experts are recommending Pakistan as a must-visit destination for 2020.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Pakistan this autumn put the country back into the spotlight. Plus, it’s now easier to get there from London, thanks to new direct British Airways flights to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad,” read The Independent’s article.
