Tourist arrivals in Gilgit-Baltistan dropped by 90 per cent this year, according to a report submitted to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The report highlighted a major decline in both domestic and foreign visitors. Last year, over 20,000 foreign and one million domestic tourists visited the region. This year, only around 270 foreign climbers reached Gilgit-Baltistan.
The Gilgit-Baltistan government shared details with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, confirming that the tourism sector remained affected during the current season.
Climbers faced severe weather, rockfalls and avalanches, which forced many to abandon their expeditions. Only a few dozen successfully climbed K2, Nanga Parbat and Gasherbrum I.
The drop in numbers has been attributed to multiple factors, including extreme weather, a dispute over permit fees, and regional tensions between Iran and Israel, as well as Pakistan and India.
According to the report, many tourism campaigns were cancelled due to unexpected weather conditions.
