Tag: travel

  • ‘Traveller by Condè Nast’ ranks Pakistan as number one travel destination for 2020

    ‘Traveller by Condè Nast’ ranks Pakistan as number one travel destination for 2020

    One of the world’s best travel portals, Traveller by Condè Nast, has rated Pakistan as the number one holiday destination for 2020.

    The list is compiled by CN Traveller’s “well-travelled editors for the places they’re most excited about – in this instance not just for the next 12 months, but heading into a new decade.”

    According to the authors, Pakistan is “the adventure traveller’s must-visit” destination.

    Writing about the country, the award-winning magazine said, “Thwarted by tales of terrorism and Taliban rule, Pakistan’s tourism industry has been stymied for the past two decades. But ancient valleys, relaxed visa restrictions and a high-profile royal visit in the offing mean this remarkable country is finally getting the focus it deserves.”

    It further read, “Because this is a place of exquisite landscapes, where green spaces are overlooked by towering mountains. In fact, Pakistan has more peaks taller than 22,965ft than China and Nepal combined, making it an almost magnetic spot for adventure travellers and intrepid hikers.”

    “Visitors can follow in Michael Palin’s steps while traversing the 12,250ft Shandur Pass, home to the world’s highest polo field, or meet with the Kalash people of the Hindu Kush, famed for their cowrie-shell headdresses and brighter-than-bright embroidery. In Lahore, the sight of 100,000 worshippers crammed into the sandstone 17th-century Badshahi Mosque will leave you breathless, while Mughal-era architectural masterpieces stand resplendent on bustling street corners.”

    Founder and CEO of adventure-tour operator Wild Frontiers Jonny Bealby said that Pakistan’s improving tourism was because of “a focus on security measures and the election of Imran Khan, who has vowed to increase international tourist numbers.”

    Meanwhile, the royal visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge has also boosted Pakistan’s image as a popular tourist destination.

    It is pertinent to mention here that the PTI government is making strong efforts to boost tourism in the country that will not only spread the soft image of Pakistan but also it will also bring the revenue into the country – the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor is proof of that.

    Other destinations that featured on the list include Kyoto (Japan), Rijeka (Croatia), Panam, Rabat (Morocco) British Virgin Islands, Frisian Islands, Denmark, Qingdao (China), Lebanon, Portland (Maine, US), Dakar (Senegal), Egadi Islands (Sicily), Paris (France), Siargao (Philippines), Galway (Ireland), Kangaroo Island (Australia), Salvador (Brazil), Armenia (Kyrgyzstan) and Plymouth (UK).

    Previously, UK publication The Independent also wrote that travel experts are recommending Pakistan as a must-visit destination for 2020.

    “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Pakistan this autumn put the country back into the spotlight. Plus, it’s now easier to get there from London, thanks to new direct British Airways flights to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad,” read The Independent’s article.

  • US Embassy introduces home delivery service for visa

    Good news for all those applying for their US visa.

    The United States Embassy in Pakistan has announced the introduction of a new optional visa delivery service.

    According to a tweet from the official account of the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistanis can avail the facility of having their US visa delivered to them on their doorstep. The service is optional and comes with a delivery charge of Rs 700.

    To avail this service, select the “premium delivery” option during the application process and you’re good to go.

  • #BeautifulPakistan is trending on Twitter and the pictures are truly beautiful

    #BeautifulPakistan is trending on Twitter and the pictures are truly beautiful

    Every Pakistani will agree that Pakistan is truly a beautiful country. From the vast coastlines to the high mountains, the picturesque landscapes of the country are unmatched.

    The Independent recently wrote that travel experts are recommending Pakistan as a must-visit destination for 2020.

    “The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s visit to Pakistan this autumn put the country back into the spotlight. Plus, it’s now easier to get there from London, thanks to new direct British Airways flights to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad,” read The Independent’s article.

    “Tour operator Wild Frontiers has been tipping Pakistan as the next big destination for a couple of years – it has seen an increase in customer numbers of 20 percent this year compared to 2018,” it added.

    The hashtag #BeautifulPakistan has been trending on Twitter since morning on Wednesday, as people shared a posted pictures of the country on the social media platform. And we have to say, some of the pictures are dreamy.

    https://twitter.com/ElifTurkey/status/1202124710407999489?s=20
    https://twitter.com/aminn_riaz/status/1202181300087611395?s=20

    https://twitter.com/BeautyOfPak_/status/1202111048142217216?s=20
    https://twitter.com/MalikIbraheem29/status/1202164042225344513?s=20
    https://twitter.com/BeautyOfPak_/status/1202196949459460099?s=20
  • You will be able to fly to Baku directly next year

    You will be able to fly to Baku directly next year

    Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan, Ali Alizada, has said that direct flights between his country and Pakistan would start from next year, which will help strengthen the bilateral trade, economic relations and people-to-people contact. The capital of Azerbaijan, Baku is a popular holiday choice for Pakistanis.

    According to Dawn, the envoy revealed the information while speaking during a meeting with the business community in Peshawer.

    The ambassador said that Azerbaijan gave much importance to cementing mutual trade, economic and cultural relations with Pakistan.

    Meanwhile, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Maqsood Anwar Pervaiz, who chaired the event invited the business community of Azerbaijan to make investment in hydel power generation, oil and gas, LPG, mines, mineral, gemstones, agriculture, medicine, fruits, livestock, honey and other sectors.

    Alizada accepted the SCCI president’s invitation and and assured him they would issue visas to the business community on a priority basis to boost trade ties between the two countries.

    So if you’re planning a vacation to Baku, hold that thought because you’ll soon be able to fly directly there. The shortest flight from Lahore to Baku currently takes a little more than eight hours. But according to Google Maps, the direct flight will cut travel time by two hours.

  • New study reveals all-girls holidays key to happiness

    New study reveals all-girls holidays key to happiness

    An exotic holiday with your best girlfriends sounds like a fabulous idea and not that you needed any reason to go on one, but new research has revealed that girls’ holidays are actually key to keeping happy – AND they have a positive impact on our overall health.

    According to social-personality psychologist William Chopik, friendships “are a way to derive all the benefits of being in a relationship with someone without the enormity of it.”

    He explained that friendships enrich a person’s life and generally makes them happier, adding, “These are relationships of choice. You choose to hang out together because you enjoy each other’s company.”

    Speaking specifically about a girls trip, Dr Chopnik said that such holidays allow you to connect more with your pals.

    “You can sit down, look them in the eye, have a true back-and-forth and read each other’s body language. They can see you and your facial expressions. You’re emotionally responding to things and you can pick up on their emotions. You don’t always get that through a phone call.”

    Meanwhile, a recent study by Harvard University also found that going away with friends has noticeable health benefits because “social connections like these not only give pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet and not smoking.”

  • ‘Maryam needed in London for Nawaz’s treatment,’ says Ishaq Dar’s son

    ‘Maryam needed in London for Nawaz’s treatment,’ says Ishaq Dar’s son

    Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and former finance minister Ishaq Dar’s son Ali Dar has said that PML-N Vice President (VP) Maryam Nawaz’s presence in London is essential for her ailing father and former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif’s treatment.

    “Maryam is aware of her father’s deteriorating health and knows his medical history. His [Nawaz’s] sons haven’t lived with him for around 20 years,” Dar reportedly said.

    Former premier Nawaz is in London after he was allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment despite his convition in corruption cases. His daughter Maryam, however, was denied the same due to the ongoing Chaudhry Sugar Mills case against her.

    Granting her bail, the court had told her to submit her passport with the court.

    Dar’s demand seeking foreign travel for Maryam to see her ailing father comes amid reports that she will soon be moving the Lahore High Court (LHC) in this regard. While PM Imran Khan has said that Maryam won’t be allowed to go to London come what may, according to some journalists, the government won’t be challenging the move if Nawaz’s health deteriorates any further.

  • Minal Khan’s Europe vacation will make you want to pack your bags asap

    Minal Khan’s Europe vacation will make you want to pack your bags asap

    Minal Khan is currently on a Europe vacation and pictures from her travels make you want to instantly pack your bags and book the first flight out.

    Minal is touring the continent with her friends. She started her trip with Berlin, before heading to Brussels, Amsterdam, Valencia and finally Barcelona. Wondering where she’ll jet off to next.

    Check out her pictures here:

    Berlin, Germany

    Brussels, Belgium

    Barcelona, Spain

    Valencia, Spain

    Amsterdam

  • The World’s Best Airline Flies From Your City Too

    The World’s Best Airline Flies From Your City Too

    We’re not spoiled for choice when it comes to international travel. 2018 winner of the Skytrax World Airline awards, was Singapore airlines but this year, it’s Qatar Airways, an airline which operates from major cities in Pakistan.

    Qatar Airways Economy Class.
    Photo credit: Qatar Airways

    The annual awards are announced in Paris and voted for by more than 20 million passengers worldwide.

    Singapore Airlines took second place and another Pakistan favourite, Emirates just made the top five by making it to 5th place.

  • KP government plans to introduce helicopter service to Kalam, Chitral

    KP government plans to introduce helicopter service to Kalam, Chitral

    KP Tourism Minister Atif Khan in a recent media talk revealed that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is planning to start a helicopter service to make it easier for people to reach popular tourist spots.

    Many of KP’s tourist destinations, including Swat’s Kalam Valley, Chitral and Kumrat are difficult to reach due to lack of infrastructure, proper roads and difficult terrain. Most of the roads are narrow and not carpeted and hence dangerous. Helicopter services will cut down the travel time and make it easier for tourists to reach these areas.

    The minister did not share details as to what the cost of this service will be or when it will begin.

    The Imran Khan led government is working on an extensive plan to boost tourism in the country and make Pakistan a tourist hotspot.

  • Kalash battles tourism boom

    Kalash battles tourism boom

    Every year the Kalash, a group of less than 4,000 people confined to a handful of villages in the north, greet the new season with animal sacrifices, baptisms, and weddings at a festival known as “Joshi“.

    As celebrations kick off, tourists with phones jostle to get close to and photograph the Kalash women, whose vibrant clothing and headdresses contrast starkly with the more modest attire worn by many in the conservative Islamic republic.

    “Some people are using their cameras as if they were in a zoo,” said local tourist guide Iqbal Shah.

    Known for their pale skin and light-coloured eyes, the Kalash have long claimed ancestral links to Alexander the Great’s army, who conquered the region in the fourth century BC. They worship many gods, drinking alcohol is a tradition and marriages of choice is the norm, unlike in the rest of Pakistan where unions are often arranged.

    However, the community is far from being modern. Members of the community often wed in their teens, with women poorly educated and expected to perform traditional roles in the home.

    Nonetheless, stories about the Kalash are frequently fabricated, and this has been amplified in recent years by the influx of tourists and their smartphones and cameras.

    One video viewed 1.3 million times on YouTube, claims the Kalash “openly have sex” with partners of their choosing “in the presence of their husbands”.

    In the main Kalash village of Bumburate a hotel manager estimates that about 70 percent of Pakistani tourists visiting his establishment are young men, who often inquire about where to “find girls”. Hence, in Bumburate, posters now call on visitors to seek permission from villagers before photographing and signs warn tourists not to harass women.

    “If they don’t respect us, we don’t need tourists,” says Yasir Kalash, the vice president of the local hotel association.

    Regulating tourism is a cumbersome but vital task for the Kalash, with money from the industry increasingly providing an important source of revenue for the community which is dwindling and burying under increasing costs.