Islamabad:
Director-General of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KPCTA), Habibullah Arif, has reported a remarkable increase in tourism during the three-day Eidul Azha holiday, with approximately 700,000 tourists visiting popular destinations over Khyber-Pakhwa.
DG ARIF, who spoke exclusively to a private news channel, expressed enthusiasm over the strong turnout. “We are pleased to witness such an overwhelming reaction from tourists. KP’s breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage and hot hospitality have made it a preferred destination this year,” he said.
By breaking down the number, Arif noticed that Swat welcomed about 288,000 visitors, Galyat saw 177,000, and chitral and Upper Dir received jointly 100,000 tourists.
Other top places such as Naran-Kaghan and Malam Jabba also drew large crowds and attracted visitors seeking natural beauty, adventure and cultural experiences.
“Tourists were drawn by the region’s amazing nature, outdoor activities and lively traditions,” he added.
DG emphasized the authority’s obligation to sustainable tourism and said, “We are focused on improving our infrastructure, improving services and providing facilities to accommodate the growing number of tourists. Our goal is to ensure that every visitor has a safe and memorable experience.”
He also highlighted the efforts to maintain affordable prices and comfort and said, “Within our available resources, we ensure high quality food and work prices to regulate food prices and hotel services.”
In an attempt to diversify tourist offerings, ARIF said KPCTA actively identifies hidden gems throughout the province and organized camping and adventure tourism activities to show KP’s lesser-known natural wonders.
