Last October, 10 agents set out from Heathrow on a week-long tour of Pakistan. The trip – which was organised by PATA in conjunction with Pakistan International Airlines and the Pakistan Tourist Authority – included a stay in the foothills of the Himalayas, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Murree and the Kyber Pass. The agents unanimously voted the Kyber Pass the highlight of the trip and were all determined to go back to explore some more. We asked three of them to give their impressions before and after the trip.
Before: “I had never been to Pakistan and I wasn’t sure entirely what to expect. I guessed the accommodation standards would be pretty good because there are a lot of cricket tours there and I couldn’t imagine the cricketers staying in mud huts. We sold some flights to Pakistan – mainly to those visiting friends and relatives and were aware of the Foreign Office guidance which does not encourage tourists to the region. We hear a fair bit about these places on the news and some are known trouble spots so I was interested to see it all first-hand.”
After: “The trip was a fantastic experience. The accommodation exceeded all my expectations and in some places was really luxurious. The cities were vibrant, noisy and highly interesting and the scenery beyond them was absolutely stunning. The Himalayan foothills were incredibly peaceful and the people we met were very friendly and welcoming. The Kyber Pass was definitely the highlight. There were plenty of people carrying guns but we never felt in any danger. It was all fascinating. If you travel in an organised group I really don’t think the Foreign Office warnings are justified. I would certainly recommend Pakistan for anyone looking for something slightly offbeat, somewhere for a bit of adventure but not too scary. Somewhere with masses to see and do.”
Mike Colley, Director, Sunways Travel, Longfield, Kent, Age: 50 plus
Before: “We were selling about one or two flights to Pakistan a month compared to over 100 a month for India, which I imagined was pretty similar. I had not visited Pakistan before so I could never actively encourage clients to book it. I didn’t know much about it. I imagined it to be bustling and colourful with a lot of interesting history and culture to absorb. I thought it would be the kind of place that those who had already visited India might be encouraged to move on to.”
After: “The sights and the smells were amazing – the whole trip was packed with local colour and fascinating characters. At the Kyber Pass we had to have an armed guard to accompany us and it was all very exciting. We mixed with a lot of local people which really brought the history books to life. The hotels were fantastic – a real oasis compared with the bustling environment of the cities. I would definitely go back – I have already booked a friend to go and am now recommending it to anyone who wants a true traveller’s holiday. It’s a very different type of destination, with a very different lifestyle, but really memorable.”
Phillip Suter, Senior Sales Consultant, Thomas Cook, Peterborough, Age: 35
Before: “I had been to India and imagined it would be very similar to that. I expected it to be very crowded and hectic, with a lot of noise and poverty. I had found the poverty of India quite shocking and had often felt pretty apprehensive while travelling there – I expected Pakistan to feel the same. We had done one or two escorted tour bookings to Pakistan but not a great deal else. It is hard to sell anywhere not recommended by the Foreign Office particularly at a time when there are kidnappings such as those in Yemen.”
After: “Pakistan was totally unexpected – it was nothing like India and nothing like I imagined it would be. It is certainly more an experience than a holiday but there is none of the obvious abject poverty of India and there are vast areas of peaceful, serene, green landscapes with something of the feel of Switzerland! The trip made me want to travel more in Pakistan. There are some amazing contrasts in scenery – from green mountain valleys to barren desolate rock regions – and I would definitely recommend it. The tourism potential for Pakistan is enormous. We saw a great number of tourists from other countries and I really feel the Foreign Office warnings are unnecessary – they put people off and that is a great shame.”
David Barrett, Partner, Regent Travel, Stone, Staffordshire, Age: 35
Foreign Office Advice:
In light of the US military strikes against terrorists in Afghanistan, the Foreign Office advises travellers to postpone non-essential visits to Pakistan. Visitors who do travel to Pakistan should exercise caution and check the security situation before departure.