GILGIT: Over 1,700 foreign adventure tourists have applied for permits to climb peaks in Gilgit-Baltistan, with 175 eyeing to scale K2 this summer, according to a top government official.
Meanwhile, an eight-member team of Pakistani and Italian female climbers will start their expedition to summit the world’s second-highest peak, K2, this month.GB Tourism Department Deputy Secretary Sajid Hussain told media that adventure tourism in the region was booming.
He added that of the 1,700 foreign climbers who applied, several have been issued permits while the remaining applications were being processed.“The visa clearance process has also been sped up for foreign climbers, and many will apply for a visa on arrival in Pakistan,” he said.
In the summer of 2023, over 2,050 foreign climbers and trekkers, along with around 9,000 tourists, arrived in the region.The influx of tourists earned the region’s government Rs450 million in permit fees for climbing.
The eight-member all-women K2 expedition team included four mountaineers from GB and as many from Italy.The Pakistani climbers underwent rigorous training in the Alps mountain range in Italy and Rattu ski village in GB.
The expedition has been organised by EvK2CNR, an organisation focusing on research in mountainous areas, with the support of the Italian Alpine Club.EvK2CNR President Agostino Da Polenza will be the expedition leader, while Pakistani mountaineer Samina Baig will be the climbing leader.
The expedition was launched in Italy recently at a ceremony attended by Italy’s federal minister of tourism, Daniela Santanchè, Alpine Club of Italy President Antonio Montani, MrPolenza, and other guests. An EvK2CNR official told media that a project launch will also take place on June 18 in Islamabad, after which the team will start the expedition.
It is pertinent to mention that in the summer season of 2023, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) witnessed a notable influx of over 2,050 foreign climbers and trekkers, apart from around 9,000 foreign tourists.The GB government collected Rs40.5 million in permit fees for climbing peaks during this period.
The tourism department reported that over 9,000 foreign tourists, including paragliders and trekkers in open zones, explored GB in 2023.Among the visitors, 2,050 foreign climbers and trekkers endeavoured to ascend various peaks, including the renowned five eight-thousanders: K2, Nanga Parbat, Gasherbrum-I, Gasherbrum-II, and Broad Peak. This marked the highest number of foreign tourists visiting the region in the past two decades.
Tour operators suggested that implementing specific measures could further attract a greater number of foreign tourists, while simultaneously criticising the role of the tourism department.
Numerous foreign tourists faced challenges visiting GB due to visa complexities and related issues. Mohammad Ali, representing the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators, pointed out what he called the intricate and time-consuming nature of the visa process. According to him, obtaining a Pakistan visa after application takes several months.
