As tensions between India and Pakistan escalate, the tourism industry in Gilgit-Baltistan is feeling the sting. A significant number of foreign tourists have canceled their trips to the region, leaving local tour operators facing substantial financial losses. According to a trade body official, the uncertainty surrounding potential conflict has caused these operators to lose thousands of dollars in earnings.
The catalyst for the current strain on tourism was the deadly attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-occupied Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, mostly tourists. India has suggested possible cross-border links without offering credible evidence, while Pakistan’s government has firmly denied any involvement and called for an impartial investigation. The fallout from this incident has sharply heightened tensions, leading Pakistan to bolster its military presence while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi granted his forces “operational freedom.”
The fear of an impending conflict has led to travel disruptions in the region. Pakistan temporarily closed its airspace over Gilgit-Baltistan, while India restricted access for all Pakistan-registered aircraft, including those belonging to Pakistani airlines and the military.
Ali Anwar Khan, General Secretary of the Gilgit-Baltistan Tour Operators Association, explained the profound impact of the situation on international tourism. “The threat of war between Pakistan and India has significantly affected the region’s tourism industry this year,” he said. He further added that numerous foreign tourists, particularly from European and Commonwealth countries, have canceled their bookings. The cancellations extend beyond Western tourists, with visitors from Thailand also backing out. Khan’s own company alone had to cancel tours for eight to ten foreign groups, and he estimated that about 200 other tour operators have faced similar setbacks.
Khan noted that each tour operator has lost anywhere between $50,000 and $80,000 in potential earnings due to the current tensions. Many countries have issued travel advisories, prompting tourists to cancel their trips rapidly, while others are awaiting updates before making decisions. The typical foreign tourist spends approximately $1,500 during their visit, meaning that the entire tourism sector — from hotels to transport services — will feel the ripple effects of these cancellations.
Foreign tourists still in Gilgit-Baltistan are expressing concerns about the escalating situation, with some anxious to return to their home countries early. Many are worried that staying longer could place them in the path of a possible conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
The region’s mountaineering sector, which relies on foreign climbers who visit to scale peaks such as K2, has also taken a severe hit. This decline had already begun earlier due to legal disputes regarding tax hikes and permit fees for trekking and mountaineering activities. A standoff between tour operators and the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department has further impacted the sector. Although the Supreme Court temporarily suspended an increase in permit fees, no clear resolution has been provided, leaving uncertainty in its wake.
Khan estimates that these disruptions have affected around 2,000 foreign tourists, a significant portion of the 25,000 international visitors who traveled to Gilgit-Baltistan last year. According to the tourism department, 2,300 foreign mountaineers and trekkers were issued permits for their expeditions in the previous year, though many others were able to participate in trekking and climbing activities without paying the required fees.
The suspension of permit issuance this year due to ongoing court cases has added to the woes of tour operators. What used to be a quick, two- to three-day process for granting permits is now stalled, further discouraging tourists.
Despite these challenges, the region has still attracted a large number of domestic tourists. Director of Tourism Gilgit-Baltistan, Iqbal Hussain, reported that around 1.5 million domestic visitors traveled to the region last year. Overall, the tourism sector, both foreign and domestic, generated an estimated revenue of Rs 64 billion.
As the geopolitical situation remains volatile, the once-thriving tourism industry in Gilgit-Baltistan faces an uncertain future, with both local businesses and the economy at risk of suffering lasting damage.
