Nearly 100 local and foreign tourists participating in snowboarding competition
A six-day long gala at the scenic Malam Jabba tourist spot has been in Swat valley from January 18-23.
The main attraction of the gala is Pakistan International Snowboarding Championship. Around 24 international, 2 from UK, 9 from Belgium and 13 from Afghanistan, are participating in the event, the authorities told Islamabad Scene. Nearly 80 local athletes from Chiral, Swat and Gilgit-Baltistan will also be competing.
The main focus of the event will be snowboarding where participants from all across the country will be showing their skills. Besides the competition, local food and music will also be on offer.
A number of stakeholders including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) in partnership with the Tourism, Sports, Archaeology, Culture, Museums and Youth Affairs Department and the Samson Group of Companies. The KP Tourism Department also held a snowboarding games championship at the scenic Malam Jabba resort last year, which was very well received by the masses.
Winter sports in Pakistan
Pakistan’s northern areas are world-famous for their beauty. However, one of the factors holding back growth in tourism is the lack of such events. Tourists that come from other countries need to research and look for places to visit. Local people say festivals such as these can help people learn about Malam Jabba and the nearby tourist attractions with relative ease.
The Shandur festival attracts scores of international tourists each year and a similar model can be applied in other areas with some tweaks. It is, at the same time, important to ensure that there is enough infrastructure to cater to the rising number of tourists. With the right planning and execution, Pakistan can get ten folds the international tourists it is attracting at the moment each year.