How greatly impacted are ecotourism communities and businesses in Pakistan from the recent Earthquake?
The October 8 Earthquake badly hit Pakistani-held Kashmir and N.W.F.P., causing the death of around 76,000 people. The areas of Balakot, Ghari Habibullah and Bagh were popular domestic tourism destinations. The economy of Balakot has always been based on tourism being the gateway of Kaghan Valley which is the most beautiful Valley of Pakistan. Therefore one can easily understand the impact of earthquake on tourism and ecotourism communities and businesses. Are there any initiatives coming up from Ecotourism Society of Pakistan, and how can the ecotourism community around the world best contribute to these? Ecotourism Society Pakistan (ESP) believes that this disaster can be changed into opportunity. Disaster has promoted and publicized Balakot all over the world although Balakot was not as popular destination as Gilgit or Hunza among foreign tourists although it is considered as heaven for domestic tourists due to short haul tourism. Balakot is around 210 Km from Islamabad. In its prop
