Tourism is an important industry around the world and the economic stability of many countries depends on tourism. The Government of Tehreek-e-Insaf led by Prime Minister Imran Khan is taking special steps to promote tourism. That is why Wild Frontiers, is a well-known travel company for attracting foreign tourists. Last year ranked Pakistan as the number one country for tourism.
Thus, the U.S.-based Lifestyle and Luxury Publications also classified Pakistan equally in 2020. In this regard, Pakistan is a lucky country with vast opportunities for natural beauty as well as religious tourism.
The five most important religious places of the Sikh community are located in Pakistani Punjab. Of these Sikh religious places, Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur is of utmost importance to Sikhs as their spiritual leader, Gurunanak Devji, spent the last 18 years of his life here.
His last resting place is also here. Before the opening of the Kartarpur corridor, Sikh pilgrims used to use telescopes to observe their pilgrimage. With the opening of this corridor, they can now easily visit their religious places, which is not only promoting religious tourism in Pakistan but also provides grounds for peaceful relations between both states, especially among the Sikh community.
Harpreet S. Sindhu, the executive director of the American Sikh Committee Center and leader of the Sikh delegation who visited Pakistan, pointed out in a meeting in Lahore recently that Pakistan can earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange annually by taking full advantage of the unexplored potential of Sikh and Buddhist tourism.
To get maximum benefits from this sector, the government urgently needs to invest in the development and maintenance of infrastructure as per the international standards set by UNESCO. According to Harpreet S. Sindhu, 79% of India’s 20 million Indian Sikhs want to visit Pakistan. But they face many challenges, including a lack of proper training in facilities, accommodation, security, and hotel management staff, as well as low-quality services. Similarly, 83% of the 8 million Sikhs living abroad express the same desire.
It is worth noting for us that religious tourism is flourishing all over the world, but in Pakistan, the industry has not been able to get the importance it should have. Although Pakistan is rich in the historical heritage of different religions. In this regard, Taxila, Haripur, Mardan, Swat, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other areas can be very attractive to foreign tourists. According to a survey, 58 million Buddhist pilgrims want to come to Pakistan, but due to a lack of facilities. Pakistan is yet to benefit from these lucrative opportunities. It should be noted that Pakistan has dozens of important and sacred places of Sikhism as well as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism.
At the same time. We need to brainstorm with our citizens to highlight Pakistan’s positive image and understand the importance of religious tourism in economic stability.
In this regard, the local populations of important places and areas of religious tourism have to be sensitized. And aware by including them in tourism policies so that they do not harm these abundant resources by their ignorance. In addition, the law and order situation and tourism facilities in the country need to be improved. As tourists around the world, especially those who come for religious tourism. Would not like to spend thousands of dollars in dirty bathrooms, and dirty and sealed rooms of hotels. In addition.
We need to improve the attitudes of local people associated with this sector by giving tourism the status of a regular industry because. For every foreigner who lands at an airport in Pakistan. Most of our countrymen consider it as an opportunity for exploitation. To overcome these negative factors and attitudes, the government needs to enact effective tourism legislation and formulate laws.
Who performs the duty of guiding visitors to religious tourism. The issuing procedure for issuing visas also needs to be simplified and fast. In addition, special counters can be set up at airports in Islamabad. Karachi, and Lahore to guide visitors to religious tourism.
