Gulf Times | Local sightseers inject new life into Hunza valley

After a slump in foreign visitors triggered by a deadly attack last year, a new wave of local sightseers has saved tourism in Pakistan’s idyllic northern Hunza valley.

In the valley’s main town of Karimabad, they snap pictures at the ancient Baltit Fort, a resplendent 1st century redoubt from where they can take in breathtaking views of lush forests and snow-capped peaks that have attracted the best climbers from around the world.

International tourism once helped shape the Gilgit-Baltistan region but it has slowed to a trickle after the killing of 10 foreign climbers at the base camp of Nanga Parbat mountain last year ended a post 9/11 revival.

Bewitched by the region’s splendour, as well as the famed hospitality of its mainly Ismaili Muslim inhabitants, foreign visitors in the late 20th century helped create around a dozen schools and have invested heavily in hundreds of others that dot the villages of the countryside.

Tourists visit the Baltit fort in Karimabad, a town of the northern Hunza valley (Image: Gulf Times)
Tourists visit the Baltit fort in Karimabad, a town of the northern Hunza valley (Image: Gulf Times)

One such is Hasegawa Memorial Public School established in 1995 to commemorate renowned Japanese mountaineer Tuseno Hasegawa who is buried in the lap of the mountain, as per his will.

Schools like Hasegawa introduced English as the medium of instruction and played a major role in boosting the region, say locals.

“International tourism has made a tremendous contribution in the socio-economic uplift of Hunza and we should be thankful for that,” said Imtiaz Ali, owner of Hunza Holidays, a leading tour operator.

International tourism took a major hit after Pakistan joined hands with the US in its war against terror after 9/11.

Sherbaz Kaleem, manager of the ancient Baltit Fort, said that during peak season before 2001, “we used to receive almost 200 – 300 international community tourists” daily.

Aziz Ali Dad, a social commentator, said: “The difference between domestic and international tourists is that the international tourists are more conscious about the local values and respect them – which is not the case with the domestic tourists.”

Via Gulf Times | Local sightseers inject new life into Hunza valley.

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Earlier & Related – Karimabad, Hunza at Ismailimail Archives:

Baltit Fort, the residence of the Mirs of Hunza, was restored as a museum and cultural centre by AKTC
Serena Hotels Pakistan – Official Supporter of World Travel Market celebrates World Responsible Tourism Day 2014 at Attabad Lake, Hunza
Jubilation – Salgirah Mubarak | Karimabad: Salgirah of the Aga Khan’s first arrival in Hunza celebrated by the Ismaili Muslims
Imran Hunzai Photography: Vote for Baltit Fort in ‘Visit My Country Contest’

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