The tourism boom has undoubtedly
brought benefits to many of the world's mountain regions.
Globally, mountain tourism accounts for 15 to 20 percent
of all tourism revenue or US$ 70 to $90 billion a year.
In Pakistan, foreign exchange earnings from tourism
amounted to USD 120 million in 1992, and it therefore
became
the ninth largest foreign exchange earner during that
period. However, compared to other countries of the
world, these earnings are quite low, considering the
possession of the great mountains. (Revenues generated
by the European Alps account for 7 to 10 percent of
total revenues from mountain tourism).4 In
Pakistan domestic tourism is overwhelming, whereas
only one-third
of the total tourists are foreigners. 5
Tourism revenue has emerged as a blessing for the
mountain people, as many of them, have now been able
to improve their standard of living. Mountain tourism
has provided the residents with an opportunity to a
better future in their home community, instead of becoming
part of the rural exodus to cities. The influx of visitors
has also created a market for the land produce as well
as the products made by the local craftsmen. Although
mountain tourism is one of the fastest growing economic
sectors in the world, yet it is the least regulated
one. Short-term profits need to be balanced against
the long-term losses if the industry intends to prove
itself beneficial for the mountain people. In Pakistan,
usually the benefits of tourism tend to be expropriated
by the higher authorities rather than providing a balanced
share to the locals, who bear the major costs and problems
of tourism. Thus, profits from tourism are usually
siphoned off to national development than to local
development. This can be traced to the fact that 80
percent of the local tourist expenditure leaks out
in the Kalam valley in Pakistan. 6
|
