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PEARL CONTINENTAL HOTELS AND RESORTS

PEARL CONTINENTAL HOTELS AND RESORTS

Type :                           Hotel and Restaurant

Area served :             Pakistan

Head quarters :          Pakistan

Number of locations : Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Peshawar,Gwadar, Bhurban,             Muzaffarabad  and Multan

Revenue :                  Rs 4.1 billion

Net income :              Rs 600 million

 Owners :                   Sadruddin Hashwani

Parent ;                      Hashoo Group


Pearl Continental Hotels and Resorts, is abbreviated as PC. It is an upper end 4 star hotel chain in Pakistan. PC is situated in Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore , Peshawar, Gwadar, Bhurban,   Muzaffarabad and Multan.
The Pearl Continental Hotel inKarachi was the first-ever five star intercontinental Hotel in Pakistan, and has hosted Queen Elizabeth ll. Nelson Mandala, and other world leaders and royalty. It is very classic luxury and an array of restaurants including Sakura serving authentic Japanese food on the hotel's top floor. It has views of downtown Karachi.
The hotels are owned and operated by Hashoo Group ,one of the largest business houses in Pakistan. This group is also owner of Marriott Hotels in Karachi and Islamabad, and Hotel One a chain of budget hotels in Lahore , Islamabad, Sialkot, Bahawalpur, Murree Multan and Faisalabad

PAKISTAN MONUMENT AND MUSEUM ISLAMABAD, TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN MONUMENT AND MUSEUM ISLAMABAD

Construction started :     May 25,2004
Construction completed :     March 23, 2007
Architect :     Arif Masoud
Owner :     Ministry of Culture, Pakistan
Civil engineer :     Wasim Rajput
Structural engineer :     Muhammad Naeem Khan Lodhi
Main contractor :     Universal Corporation Private LTD
Rules inside Museum :     No touching artifacts
Entry fee Museum :     Rs 10 for children and Rs 20 for adults
Address :     The monument is located at the west viewpoint of the Shakar Parian Hills, and is spread over a total area of 2.8 hectares.

The building structure is of a blossoming flower which exemplifies the four provinces of Pakistan and the remaining three petals  represent  Gilgit Baltistan, Kashmir and tribal ares. It depicts the tail of  people who  participated  in Pakistan Movement and sacrificed their lives in this great cause.





 MONUMENT  MUSEUM
 Pakistan Monoment museum is located near Pakistan Monument in Islamabad. It was built in November 2010 . The museum provides an insight into  country's history and the struggle through which the people of Pakistan went through during the subcontinent era. It pays a tribute to those who sacrificed  their lives for a separate home land. The Pakistan Monument overlooks the heart of Islamabad in an awe inspiring fashion. The project started by Pervaiz Musharaf  in 2004, aimed to provide the residents of Islamabad with a sight to pay homage to the rich history and represent development and future progress.

LAHORE FORT (SHAHI QILA ) , TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

LAHORE FORT (SHAHI QILA )

Lahore Fort is known as Shahi Qila. It is located in north-western corner of the historical city of Lahore.  Shahi Qila is built in ( 1556-1605 ) by Mughal Emperor Akbar. It is in front of  famous Badshahi Mosque.  Some of the famous sites worth seeing in the Shahi Qila are  Moti Masjid, Sheesh Mahal, Alamgiri Gate  and Naulakha Pavilion. The fort is 1,400 feet in length and 1,115 feet in width. The fort was inscribed as a UNESCO ( United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization ). World Heritage Site along with the Shalamar Gardens in 1981.  Many people and tourist daily visit this park and Shahi Qila  is a great place for history lovers. Presently the administrative control of Lahore Fort and Shalamar Garden  lies  with Punjab Government,  under Archaeology and Tourism Department of Punjab.A reasonable amount was allocated by Punjab Government in the year 2005-6,  for the restoration  and conservation of these two monuments.
                 Fort has two main gates, Akbari Gate and Alamgiri Gate
AKBARI GATE
                Akbari Gate was built by Emperor Akbar in about 1566 A.D.  It was later on called the Masti a corruption of the word in local version Maseet ( transformation in English : Mosque).  The Empress of  Akbar built a mosque  outside this gate in 1614 A.D  that still exists in good condition. The fort of Akbar's time has two gates including Masti Gate. The other gate was later replaced  by Alamgiri Gate in 1673 A.D.
ALAMGIRI GATE
                 Alamgiri Gate build by Emperor Aurangzeb Alamgir  (ruled: 1658- 1707 A.D) in 1673 in the west of the fortification wall, it opens in the Hazoori Bagh . It shows a military and pleased blend of strength , grace and grandeur as well. It has two semi - circular bastions decorated with lotus petal designs at the base.
MOTI MASJID
                  It is one of those two mosques built in chaste marble by Emperor Shah Jahan. The second one was built at Agra Fort in 1654 A.D. Aurangzeb also constructed a mosque of  the same type at Red Fort Delhi in 1662 A.D. They are all titled as Pearl Mosque because of their outlook imbued with white marble . The Sikh rulers in  Punjab used the Pearl Mosque at Lahore Fort as treasury and named it as Moti Mandar  ( Pearl Temple)

                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                  

BADSHAHI MOSQUE IN LAHORE , TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

  BADSHAHI MOSQUE IN LAHORE


  The Badshahi  Mosque means the "Imperial Mosque" .It is situated in Lahore, commissioned by the sixth Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb in 1671 and completed in 1673. It is the second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia , and the fifth largest mosque in the world. Many tourist come  and see this beautiful mosque. It is Lahore's most famous landmark and a major tourist attraction.
    It remained the largest mosque in the world during 1671 to 1986, when overtaken in size by completion of the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad . Capable of accommodating  5,000 worshippers in its  main prayer hall and a further 95,000 in its courtyard and porticoes.
    Today it remains second largest mosque in Pakistan and South Asia and the fifth largest mosque in the world after the Masjid al-Haram (grand mosque ) of Mecca, the Al- Masjid al Nabawi (Holy Prophet's Mosque) of Madina the Hassan ll Mosque in Casablanca and the Faisal Mosque in Islamabad.

     This mosque is situated opposite the Lahore Fort and near by  Ravi. River.The mosques foundation and structure was constructed using bricks and compacted clay.  The structure was then clad with red sand stone tiles brought from a stone quarry near Jaipur in Rajasthan and its domes were clad with white marble.
   

           

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN PAKISTAN , TOURISM INPAKISTAN

CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan is famous for its cultural heritage, which may attract a number of domestic and foreign tourists, the ones who are interested in history , culture and archaeological research . Cultural attractions which exist in Pakistan and which either have been or could be made available to tourists include:

1. Archaeological sites e.g, Moen-jo-daro and Harappa  (Indus Civilization ), Taxila (Gandharan-Buddhist civilisation).
2. Historic sites e.g, forts ( Baltit), Khyber Pass, mosques (Badshahi  in Lahore,Muhabat Khan in Peshawar , Shah Jahan in Thatta), Shalimar Garden in Lahore, tombs ( the tombs of Chaukandi near Karachi and Makli near Thatta, Allama Iqbal's and Ranjit Singh's in Lahore.
3. Modern buildings like Faisal Mosque, Parliament building and Presidential Palace in Islamabad, mousoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi, Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore, dams and barrages.
4. The salt mine at Khewra.
5. Traditional crafts and bazaars.
   

THE NATURAL ATTRACTIONS OF PAKISTAN , TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

THE NATURAL ATTRACTIONS OF PAKISTAN 

NORTHERN AREAS
      The Northern Areas of Pakistan are located amid towering snowcapped peaks, with heights ranging between 1000 and over 8000 metres above sea level. The valley of Gilgit, Hunza, Skurdu, Chitral, Swat ,and Kaghan have unique flora and fauna. The Northern Areas are regarded as a paradise for mountaineers, climbers, trekkers, hikers, lovers of nature, painters and photographers.
        The cultural patterns in these areas are as interesting as their topography. The people with their unique culture, typical costumes, folk dances, music and sports like buzkushi and polo provide an attraction to tourists.

KAGHAN VALLEY
     Kaghan Valley is one of the most splendid tourist areas in Pakistan . A holiday in the Kghan Valley , the Himalayan hideaway located north east of the Hazara district of Pakistan's North-West Frontier Province, is an unforgettable experience for many tourists.

TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN KAGHAN
     The valley is somewhat narrow in some parts and the views are limited but as you ascend, the surroundings peaks come in to view. One spot that is quite famous for its spectacular view and scenery is Shogran. This village , surrounded by peaks and forests, is east of the main Kunhar River.
      Fishing is the chief sport in Kaghan. Brown trout and mahasheer  are stocked in pure silvery waters between Kaghan and Naran. The Kunhar river trout is considered to be the best throughout the subcontinent. Fishing  licenses are issued by the Fisheries Department at Naran or by the Trout Hatchery at Shinu.
        Most visitors to Naran pay a visit to Saiful Maluk Lake (3,211 metres) 6 miles east of town .If the road is closed , it is an easy, gradual three-hour-walk. If the road is open you can arrange transportation by jeep , and the lake is a lovely a pot for a picnic.

        One of the most interesting features of the Kaghan area is the Gujar (herder) families you'll see along the way bringing their animals to the summer pastures.




SWAT VALLEY
        The Valley of Swat , with its rushing torrents, lakes,fruit-laden orchards and flower-bedecked slopes is an idyllic valley. The lush green vegetation , fast flowing rivers and easy accessibility has made Swat valley one of the popular tourist resorts

GILGIT VALLEY
        At an elevation of 1453.90 metres (4,770 feet) lies the Gilgit Valley. The quaint little town of Gilgit has significant scenic beauty all  around. The season to visit Gilgit is from May to mid-October.
        The favourite sport in Gilgit is polo which the locals claim, originated here. The local version  is more rugged! Matches are festive occasion and draws a large number of visitors.

SKARDU
        Skardu is the capital of Baltistan . The tourist season is from April to October. The maximum temperature is 27 degree centigrade and minimum is 8 degree centigrade. It is the starting point for expeditions to K2 and other giant peaks.

HUNZA VALLEY
       Visitors to Hunza are over-whelmed by its rugged charm, the fragrant  breeze singing through the meadows and the wheat fields, set against the background of  snow-covered mountains . The valley is situated at an elevation of 2438 meters (8,000 ) feet.
        Most of the people of Hunza are Ismaili, followers of His Highness the Agha Khan. The local language is Burushashki, but Urdu and English are widely understood. The people of Hunza are noted for their longevity.
       Hunza has a unique cultural style. The women of Hunza look different in their colourful costumes.The women of Hunza , in their baggy trousers and their heads  covered with embroidered caps can be seen working in the fields with their cattle.

     The fairy-tale fort of  Baltit, one and half kms from Karimabad, was built about 600 years ago. Stilted on massive legs , its wooden windows look out over the valley. Originally, it was used as the residence for the rulers of Hunza.

CHITRAL 
     Chitral is a forbidding  land, which remains cut off for the whole winter  from rest of the country helping it to keep its traditional way of life. Bumboret, Rumber, Birir are  the famous Kalash Valleys  which are the prime attraction of the Chitral Region . The Kalasha is a pagan tribe which unique customs and festivals. At Shandur Polo Festival is another attraction of the area.

TOURISM IN PAKISTAN

• DISADVANTAGES OF TOURISM FOR PAKISTAN
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• The internal and external political and economic situations determine the number of tourists. For example after September 11,2001, there was a sharp decline in the number of tourists all over the world and including Pakistan. Such situations negatively affect the development of a tourist industry. 
•  Tourism only generates seasonal employment . For example , in most of  the tourist places in the Northern Areas in Pakistan the tourist season is from May to October (six months). For the rest of the year people have to look for other jobs.
• The money , which is required for the tourist industry in Pakistan, could be spent on the other basic sectors of the economy , which  may be more productive than tourism e.g, the exploration of minerals, power resources, manufacturing industries, mechanization in agriculture.
• In Pakistan there is a good potential  for High Adventure Tourism . Such tourism only attracts young, adventurous and healthy males rather than families(women, children and old people).
• The building of  hotels means local people lose their homes, land and traditional  means of livelihood (e.g, fishermen may lose their livelihood if hotels are built next to the rivers) and become dependent on serving wealthy tourists. 
• Tourism often destroy local culture and traditions. New social  problems of crime , terrorism, prostitution, drugs and drunkenness may emerge. Sometimes tourists do not respect local customs  and religious beliefs. 
• Domestic tourists may not be able to afford tourist facilities. 
• During the tourist season the prices of basic necessities rise beyond the affordability of the local people. 
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The natural environment may be badly affected e.g, the area around Kalam in the Swat Valley was a tourist's paradise. It is still beautiful but deforestation especially has had a detrimental effect.

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ADVANTAGES OF TOURISM FOR PAKISTAN

   ADVANTAGES OF TOURISM FOR PAKISTAN

• Income from tourism is usually greater than the income from the export of a few raw materials. It may help to correct Pakistan's balance of payment and lessen the burden of debt. 
• It creates domestic employment e.g, in hotels, entertainment and as guides . It is labour intensive.
• It encourages local cottage craft industries and the production of souvenirs. 
• The production of food is increased due to the  creation of a local market.
• Locals  can  use tourist facilities.
• Profit earned by tourism can be used to improve local housing schools, hospitals, electricity, and water supplies
• The interaction of tourists with the local people helps in cultural linkages with foreign countries.
• It helps to reduce migration.
•  It is a sustainable industry, the tourist attractions will continue to exit.
  
  
  
  
  

MAIN SOURCES OF OVERSEAS VISITORS TO PAKISTAN

MAIN SOURCES OF OVERSEAS VISITORS TO PAKISTAN

     The United Kingdom has remained the main source of visitors.There were a total of 655,000 arrivals in 1999 of which the UK share was  21.5 %. The second highest source  of visitors was India , with  63,200 arrivals. Other sources  were Germany Japan,Russia & Central Asian Republics,China , Canada, the Netherlands, France , Sri lanka, Australia , Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Italy , Norway ,Denmark, Malaysia  and Turkey. A regional analysis  shows that the most  important source  was Europe  with over 40%  of the arrivals in 1999 followed by South Asian countries  consisting  of about 1/4  of the total tourist arrivals. More than half of overseas  visitors arrival in 1999 were visiting  friends and relatives (60%) followed by business travellers (18.3%) tourists ( recreational travellers) (13.4%) and religious tourists (2.5%) .Most of the visitors from overseas visited main cities like Karachi, Rawalpindi / Islamabad and Lahore. This is mainly  due to the nature of these visits, which are dominated  by Pakistanis returning to visit  friends and relatives.

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO PAKISTAN

INTERNATIONAL VISITORS TO PAKISTAN

     There are  three main groups:

• Visitors on business
• People visiting families
• Tourists. 

          a)      The international business visitors mainly come to Pakistan from the European countries and US for a number of  reasons, which include:

• To attend Trade delegations,
• For educational activities e.g. some educational institutions have hired foreign staff e.g. principal, teachers,
• As staff of  multinational companies such as oil companies,Foreign banks e.g Citibank , Standard Chartered Bank, Union Bank ,etc . Food Restaurants such as KFC, Macdonald's,
• As UNO officials who are working on a number of projects in Pakistan e.g.WHO (World Health Organization ) is working in  collaboration with the government of Pakistan's Ministry of Health to  fight against Polio and other diseases. The UNHCR (United Nations High Commission for Refugees) is working in Pakistan in the Afghanistan border areas to provide food, medicines and other facilities to the Afghan refugees who entered Pakistan before and after the war in 2002,
•           As number of Diplomatic delegations from different countries  to discuss political and economic issues and other areas of common interests. 

       
        There are some five star hotels  located in major cities of Pakistan e.g. Marriott Hotels, Pearl Continental Hotels ,Sheraton Hotel , Avari Towers  etc which provide standardized accommodation, a good variety of local and international food, excellent hygienic conditions,  telecommunication facilities and transport to and from the airport.

     b)    Many Pakistanis work abroad mainly in Saudi Arabia , Kuwait,U.A.E, Dubai, U.K , and U.S.A.  They are not tourists but , when on holiday, they come to visit their  families in Pakistan almost every year. They usually stay  with family members and not in hotels.The number of these visitors increased from the mid 80's to 1990  due to the construction activities in oil rich  countries  which required skilled and unskilled workers.After 1990 the demand for this labour force declined  due to the declining pace of construction activity in Middle East countries.In  addition those emigrating  also declined due to the comparatively low salaries offered  offered to the workers. However, during recent years out-migration to USA and Canada has increased resulting in an increasing of visitors  coming to Pakistan from North America.

         c)   Foreign tourists who visit Pakistan only for recreational purposes are few in number. Their number is constantly declining in Pakistan owing to the inadequate level of  security and  mismanagement  of tourist  resorts. However  those who visit Pakistan are mainly high adventure tourists  interested in visiting the northern areas of Pakistan where facilities are available to a limited extent. These tourists like to mix with local people and show a keen interest in local customs , festivals , and souvenirs. The range of accommodation  available for such tourists is different  from that for business travellers . They either stay in  PTDC motels or small  private hotels depending on their affordability . PTDC has some ideal properties in about two dozen mountain and historic places :Kaghan , Swat, Ayubia  Ziarat , Chitral, Hunza, Gilgit, Taxila , Moen-jo-daro,  etc . The motels are clean and comfortable with good restaurants and , at around Rs 2000 a night for two people , they are reasonably priced.

TOURISM

TOURISM
                 Tourism means the whole business of providing accommodation and recreation facilities for those people who are travelling and visiting or staying in a place for relatively limited period.The purpose for the visit or stay is primarily for pleasure.
                  Recently tourism has become the world's fastest growing industry.It has become an important factor in the economy of most developed countries as one of the possible ways to obtain income and create jobs.
                  In Pakistan domestic and foreign tourism is small scale at present.Except for a small group of dedicated mountaineers, mainly foreigners, very few people visit Pakistan. As far as the domestic tourism is concerned it is primarily male oriented and especially men under 40 are involved. During  summer, when the heat of  the plain areas become unbearable, quite a few affluent  families go to hilly areas such as Murree, Swat , Kaghan, Chitral etc.  

                              
                  FACTORS TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING TOURISM IN AN AREA OF PAKISTAN

1. Presence of tourist attractions
2. Level of security for the tourists
3. Availability of capital
4. Provision of infrastructure facilities
5. Management of tourists attractions
6. Marketing and publicity at international level
7. The feasibility of developing transport and communication
8. Government priorities

THE PRESENCE OF TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
           The development of tourism in Pakistan primarily depends  on the presence of tourist destinations within easy travelling distances between them in order to encourage foreign tourist to visit Pakistan.There is no doubt that Pakistan has genuinely impressive natural , historical  and cultural attractions , which may be captivating  for the tourist. However , all of these places may not be easily accessible to the tourists due to inadequate  transport facilities.

SECURITY
 Owing to the low level of security, there is, at present, a constant decline in the number of  tourists visiting Pakistan. Official records suggest that over 350,000 tourists come to Pakistan every year though the number has been on the decline , especially since the middle 1990s . Even the 350,000 figure is highly inflated  because it includes business travellers and Pakistanis  living abroad who come to visit their friends on foreign passports. Compare these figures with China and Spain , which get over 40 million tourist arrivals every year.
       After September 11, 2001, many foreign tourists have been reluctant to visit Pakistan  due to the possible terrorist attacks on foreign tourists. It is not worthwhile to develop tourism unless the level of  security is improved in Pakistan.

AVAILABILITY OF CAPITAL
 Availability of capital for tourism determines the level of  its development. The distribution of funds allocated for  the development of the tourist industry seems to be inadequate. Much more is spent on advertisements than on the development of infrastructure facilities.

PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES
 Infrastructure facilities like all -weather roads,electricity , water supply, hospitals, food supply,  and proper sewage  disposal systems are essential for the development of tourism. If these facilities are lacking , tourist will be reluctant to visit . In Pakistan , although  natural unexplored  beauty and a unique cultural heritage attract some tourists, nevertheless the lack of infrastructure facilities de-motivates the less adventurous tourists.

MANAGEMENT 

Mismanagement of tourist attractions has made some of the popular ones unattractive for domestic and foreign tourists. For example Murree, which was once popular as a tourist point due to its easy accessibility ,has started losing its natural  charm due to deforestation, congestion, inadequate sewage disposal and environmental pollution.

MARKETING AND PUBLICITY
   In this era of globalization , marketing is very important for the promotion of any industry . No matter how excellent your product, if it is not known to the consumer then its maximum potential cannot be realised. Recently there has been some improvement in domestic and foreign marketing after the introduction of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation's websites. In modern times , publicity can be easily  and most  effectively done  by developing websites. However , marketing and publicity can be further improved.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS  
  Some of the remote northern areas in Pakistan still remain unexplored due to the lack of transport facilities. For example Kaghan and Naran are difficult to reach ,as the roads are not properly maintained. Most of the roads in mountainous areas are non-metalled (kuchha). There is risk of  landslides  and flash floods. Airports have been opened at Chitral, Saidu Sharif, Gilgit and Skardu  but flights are dependet on the weather. If helicopter services are provided for the tourists  visiting the northern areas ,  then they will not be stranded. This single point will enhance tourism, as the tourist will no longer be afraid of being stranded in the remote  northern areas.

GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES
The government policies to develop tourism determine the extents of its development. Some of the economic experts question whether, in a country like Pakistan, where developmental programmes cover only a few areas  and many of the mineral deposits remain untapped, is it worthwhile to spend  huge amounts on tourism facilities? How ever it may be  worthwhile to develop " targeted tourism"  , that means , to develop those tourist points which are cost -effective and which can bring greater economic benefits.