Tourism causes uneven development:

a case study of Natural and Cultural

Heritage Tourism in Pakistan

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 Research Area: Tourism and uneven development
 Case Study: Natural and cultural heritage tourism in
Pakistan
 Investigators
 Masood ur Rehman Azhar
Research Student
University Sains Malaysia

 Nor Malina Malek

Associate Professor
University Sains Malaysia

 Saima Masood
Lecturer
COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Pakistan

 Funding Agency:
 University Sains Malaysia

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 Purpose of presentation:

 To support the theoretical approaches of

tourism and uneven development by
evaluating the tourism industry of Pakistan.

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 Scheme of
presentation

 Introduction
 Literature review
 Research methodology
 Theoretical framework
 Case study
 Conclusion

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 Introduction
 Tourism industry is a potential source of
revenue generating (US$ 1.5 trillion in 2015
from international tourism). (UNWTO, 2017)
 A vital source of employment (200
million/annum), income, and foreign exchange
(Scheyvens, 2007).

 Participation of local inhabitants and

marginalized in tourism activities can eradicate
poverty in the society (Simpson, 2008).
 Foreign exchange earned from tourism industry
promotes local development and trickle down
to local residents (Chew, 2009).
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Literature review
 Increased dependency (Britton, 1982):
 Tourism creates dependency of people and
country on tourists of other nationalities.
 This dependency can be easily manipulated
by others, both economically and politically.
 Marketing strategies to attract tourists
sabotage local industry and economy as
consumption of local products are reduced
day by day and ultimately has been replaced
by imported stuff (Britton, 1982).

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Literature review (Cont..)
 Increased inequalities (Scheyvens, 2014).
 The more resourceful in society gets more benefits from
tourism while poorest who do not have sufficient capital
and skills to use the economic opportunities are getting
nothing (Chok, Macbeth, & Warren, 2007). This
phenomenon creates uneven development in society
(Scheyvens, 2007).

 Hegemony of Elite class (Chok, 2007):

 According to Chok (2007), tourism industry is dominated
by powerful business stakeholders who manipulate
opportunities to serve their own interests. A critical
perspective of tourism and development is that economic
growth due to international tourism failed to trickle down
to benefit the poor in most of the cases (Hall, 2007).
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Theoretical framework

 Tourism creates dependency.

 It serves the interests of a particular group.
 It excludes the marginalised and creates
uneven development.

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 A case study of Pakistan
 Entry in UNWTO: 1975
 International tourists: 966277 (2012)
 Domestic tourists: 50 million
 Growth rate avg.: 10.2%
 Balance of tourism payments: USD1016
million
 Strict visa policy, poor law and order, 18th
Amendment and flawed tourism policy are the main
hindrances in promotion of tourism in Pakistan
(PATO, 2014)
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 International Arrivals

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Source: World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files
 International tourism,
receipts (current US$)

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Source: World Tourism Organization, Yearbook of Tourism Statistics, Compendium of Tourism Statistics and data files
 Natural Heritage
Himalayas

DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)61218-6)
 Karakarams
Attractive for climbers, trekkers, mountaineers, and hikers

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 Hidukash

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 Cultural Tourism
Cultural Heritage
 Ratification of the World Heritage Convention
in 1976.
 Properties inscribed on the World Heritage
List
 Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro (1980)
 Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
(1980)
 Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore (1981)
 Historical Monuments at Makli, Thatta (1981)
 Rohtas Fort (1997)
 Taxila (1980)

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 Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro (1980)

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 Buddhist Ruins of Takht-i-Bahi and
Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol
(1980)

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 Fort and Shalamar Gardens in Lahore
(1981)

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 Historical Monuments at Makli,
Thatta (1981)

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 Rohtas Fort (1997)

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 Taxila (1980)

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 Limited local economic
connections
 Mostly operated by
government registered tour
operators (42 operators).
 Hoteling, transport and food
industry is controlled by the
resourceful segments.
 No economic connections of
the locals except seasonal
labour (Baluch, 2012).
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 Lack of local ownership

 Government
managed cultural
tourist resorts.
 Locals have no
religious affiliations
with religio-cultural
sites.
 No role in policy
making (Baloch, 2008;
Mujahida, 2002; Ullah, et al., 2009;
Azhar 2009) .
Zain & Badar, 1/10/201
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 Export of heritage to central
places

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 Hegemony of elite class

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 Summary

 Tourism creates hegemony of elite class.

 It creates inequality in society.
 It causes uneven development in society
(Scheyvens, 2014).

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