Sustainable tourism

This letter refers to the news report ‘KITE’s initiatives to boost tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’ (December 8, 2024). There is indeed a dire and urgent need for sustainable tourism planning and development for the long-term. The present initiatives are not really sustainable and are not addressing the key problems of excess tourist entry into vulnerable scenic zones, which are unduly pressurised. They are also not dealing with the increasing deforestation and urbanisation of hilly zones and forest areas. At this rate, these beautiful locations in my native region will no longer remain beautiful nor green nor environmentally clean. If the KITE initiatives are serious then they must try to stop and reduce tourism to these areas and develop other areas and zones elsewhere as alternatives and they must very strictly regulate all traffic and pollution levels.

M Hashim Khan

Mansehra