Pakistan’s tourism industry badly affected due to coronavirus, say authorities

The coronavirus pandemic has also profoundly impacted Pakistan’s tourism industry, along with other industries, according to media sources.

2020 was the year that was supposed to be dedicated to increasing tourism in the country, particularly for people coming from abroad, according to the tourism department.

However, the devastating pandemic has wreaked havoc. It has also caused losses for the economy of the country. “We had expected to receive $1.5 billion this year but we don’t see that coming in,” an officer from the department said.

He went on to say that the domestic tourism has also been affected. “We are, however, working on reviving local tourism.”

The government has formed a Tourism Recovery Committee that is working on setting up traveler-following SOPs and a draft has been formed.

According to the department, once things are finalized for local tourists, visitors from abroad will be allowed as well.

There have been more than 41,000 cases of COVID-19 and 896 deaths recorded in Pakistan so far.