Swat Hotels Association urges govt to help revive tourism

MINGORA: The Swat Hotels Association on Monday warned that the valley’s tourism sector was on the verge of collapse, citing insecurity, encroachments, and government neglect as major hurdles.

Speaking at a press conference at the Swat Press Club, the association President Zahid Khan said the hotel and tourism industry has suffered losses of over Rs9 billion this year alone.He was joined by hotel owners Farhad Ali, Javed Ali Shah and Ahmad Shah.

Zahid criticized the provincial government for failing to prioritize tourism, noting that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa did not even have a dedicated tourism minister.He said that the dilapidated condition of roads and the neglect of tourist sites discouraged visitors.

He alleged that militants were being reintroduced into the area, fueling fears and driving away both domestic and foreign tourists. At the same time, he accused the government of launching anti-encroachment operations against flood-hit communities instead of providing assistance.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Khan said millions of people depend on the tourism and hospitality industry for their livelihoods. “If urgent measures are not taken, hundreds of hotels across Swat will be forced to close down,” he warned.

Zahid alleged that the tourism police personnel were mostly untrained, leaving visitors feeling unsafe. He urged the government to repair roads, provide property training to tourism police and address the hotel industry’s concerns.“Without serious and practical steps, Swat’s tourism will suffer irreversible loss ,” Zahid added.