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	Northern Areas Conservation Strategy: Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism (Author) (Bakhtiar Ahmad/Pakistan) EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Tourism sector is one of the major contributors to the economy of the Northern Areas, though no official statistics are available but it is estimated that more than 50% of International tourists arriving in Pakistan visit Northern Areas. The meeting place of three mighty mountain ranges � Karakoram, Hindu Kush and Himalayas � Northern areas are considered trekkers and mountaineers paradise with five peaks higher than 8000 meters including the world second highest peak � K-2. Northern Areas have a rich cultural heritage including a large number of archaeological sites and historical buildings, depicting the long, turbulent history and diverse culture of the area. The cultural heritage not only serve as a sense of identity and belonging for the local people but can also be a source of economic benefits for the inhabitants of the area through the promotion of cultural tourism and sale of local handicrafts. There are many agencies and organizations working for promotion of tourism and preservation of cultural heritage of the area. These include government agencies (Ministry of Tourism, PTDC, Northern Areas Tourism Development Board); private sector (hotels, tour operators, guides & porters); international organizations and NGOs (IUCN, WWF, AKCSP, KADO, AFP, ACP etc); and the local community. Despite all these efforts, the goal of sustainable tourism development and conservation of cultural heritage of Northern Areas can only be achieved if all the stakeholders address various issues faced by the sector in coordinated manner. If this is not done, it can have serious consequences for the sector, which will ultimately, have negative impacts on the economy and society of Northern Areas. The major challenge facing the policy makers and planers is how to promote tourism in the area in a sustainable fashion, with minimum possible negative impacts on local culture and natural environment i.e. to achieve a balance between profits and conservation. The objective of this paper is to identify the issues faced by the sector and suggest practical and impermeable recommendations for resolution of these issues. The paper would untimely feed into the Northern Area Conservation Strategy (NACS) � the sustainable development framework for Northern Areas � being formulated by the Northern Areas Administration with the technical assistance of IUCN Pakistan. Some of the issues identified are: � Policy formulation and implementation issues; � Lack of authentic tourism statistics; � Inadequate infrastructure; � Lack of security; � Improper marketing; � Lack of human resource development; � Lack of understanding about Ecotourism; � Environmental issues; � Preservation of cultural heritage The following are the suggested recommendations for addressing the issues identified above: � Reforming the policy formulation and implementation mechanisms; � Tourism statistics and data collection; � Human resource development; � Communication and transport; � Efficient marketing and product development; � Ensuring tourism friendly environment; � Proper utilization of parks & protected areas:.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism iii � Development of �Ecotourism�; � Addressing environmental issues; � Northern Areas Polo Festival; � Linking cultural resources with economic activities; � Establishment of �Artisans Village�; � Protection of Architectural Heritage; � Establishment of �Local Languages Promotion Authority or Academy�; � Establishment of Northern Areas Arts Council; � Pakistan Television Gilgit Centre; � Protection and Promotion of Archaeological Sites; & � Establishment of museums in Northern Areas.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 1 INTRODUCTION The Northern Areas are the main tourism destination in Pakistan both for foreign and domestic tourists. The natural beauty, some of the highest mountain peaks in the world, the largest glaciers outside the polar region, the rich cultural heritage, the remnants of the long history in the form of archaeological sites are the main tourism assets of the area. Several mountaineering and trekking expeditions visit the area every year. Tourism is one of the major sectors of the economy of Northern Areas providing employment and income to a large segment of the population. Since most of the tourism in Northern Areas is based on its natural assets � mountains, glaciers, rivers � the challenge faced by the policy makers and planners is how to develop tourism in the area with minimum negative impacts on natural environment, on which the whole industry is based i.e. how to make the tourism development process in the area �sustainable�. Other important considerations such as the impact of tourism on local culture, infrastructure development etc also has to taken into account. The Northern Areas have a rich and diverse cultural heritage in the form of arts and crafts, built and archaeological heritage, an indication of the various influences that the area received during its long and turbulent history. The world famous rock carving and inscriptions discovered in the area � from prehistoric to the modern � times have helped in reconstructing the history of this region. The preservation, conservation and promotion of cultural heritage of Northern Areas is important not only because it gives a sense of identity and belonging to the people of the area, but it can also be used for economic benefits through development of cultural tourism. If the tourism infrastructure development and the inflow of tourism is left unregulated and unplanned and nothing is done for conservation of the cultural heritage of the area, it can have serious repercussions, in the shape of destruction of natural environment on which ultimately the whole tourism industry is based. Unregulated tourism can also have negative impacts on the local culture and the people, leading to, conflicts and social unrest. This background paper attempts to identify and list these and other issues and suggests the way ahead for addressing the issues identified (in consultation with the major stakeholders through workshop and meetings) with the main focus on environmental and sustainability aspects. The background paper, would feed into the Northern Area Conservation Strategy (NACS) � a strategic policy framework for sustainable development of the Northern Areas � being developed by the Planning and Development Department, Northern Areas through NACS Support Project with technical assistance of IUCN-The World Conservation Union. The rationale for NACS can be traced back to The World Conservation Strategy (WCS), formulated in 1980 under the auspices of United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and IUCN - The World Conservation Union. The strategy focused on the rationalized development and conservation of natural resources. Pakistan, like many other countries, proceeded with the formulation of a National Conservation Strategy (NCS) � which is a major recommendation of WCS � in 1992, with the assistance of IUCN-The World Conservation Union. Thereafter, it was realized that the implementation of the NCS would depend on the active participation of the provinces. In this connection, the NWFP took the initiative, and was the first province in Pakistan to compile the Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy (SPCS) in 1996. Later on, Balochistan and Northern Areas also followed the example set by NWFP, initiating work on the formulation of Balochistan Conservation Strategy (BCS) and Northern Areas Conservation Strategy (NACS) respectively. The NACS Support Project has identified priority areas and sectors to be included in NACS through broad based consultation with the people of Northern Areas � Cultural Heritage & Sustainable Tourism being one of the priority areas identified. The Area The Northern Areas lie between 34� 40� and 37� North latitude and 72� 30� and 78� East longitude in Karakoram � Himalayan region, spread over 72, 496 sq. Kilometres. The population of the area, according to the 1981 census, is 573614. Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, Government of Pakistan administers the Northern Areas through the Chief Secretary Northern Areas. Gilgit is the administrative headquarter of the Northern Areas, which is divided into five districts �.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 2 Gilgit, Baltistan, Diamer, Ghizer and Ganche � for administrative purposes. The Northern Areas Legislative Council is the elected legislative body with the Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas acting as its Chief Executive. Mountains The Northern Areas are considered mountaineering and trekkers paradise due its unique geography. Three of the world�s greatest mountain regions � The Karakoram, Himalayas and Hindu Kush meet in this area. Five of the world�s fourteen peaks higher than 8000 meters including the world�s second highest peak � K-2, 29 peaks over 7500 meters and 101 peaks over 7000 meters are located here. Following table lists the fourteen highest peaks of Northern Areas: S. No. Peaks Altitude (meters) Range World Ranking 1. K-2 8616 Karakoram 2 2. Nanga Parbat 8125 Himalayas 8 3. Gasherbrum I 8068 Karakoram 11 4. Broad Peak 8035 Karakoram 12 5. Gasherbrum II 8047 Karakoram 14 6. Gasherbrum III 7952 Karakoram 15 7. Gasherbrum IV 7925 Karakoram 16 8. Disteghil Sar 7885 Karakoram 20 9. Kunyang Kish 7852 Karakoram 22 10. Masherbrum (NE) 7821 Karakoram 24 11. Rakaposhi 7788 Karakoram 27 12. Batura I 7785 Karakoram 28 13. Kajut Sar 7760 Karakoram 29 14. Salyoro Kangri 7742 Karakoram 33 15. Trivor 7720 Karakoram 36 Glaciers The Northern Areas also have some the largest glaciers outside the polar region including: S. No. Name of Glaciers Area (sq km) Length (km) 1. Siachen 685 71 2. Baltoro 529 62 3. Biafo 383 65 4. Hispar 343 49 5. Panmah 254 42 6. Chongo Lungma 238 44 7. Batura 220 56 8. Khurdopin & Yukshin Garden 135 37 9. Braldu 123 36 10. Barpu 123 33 11. Yaqghil 114 31 12. Virjerab 112 38 13. Mohmil 68 26 14. Gasherbrum 67 25 15. Malangutti 53 22.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 3 Some of the major tourist destinations in Northern Areas are: Gilgit, Yasin Valley, Phandar, Rama Lake, Naltar, Hunza (the famous Baltit Fort is located at Karimabad, Hunza), Buddhist Rock Carving (mainly concentrated in and around Chilas), Nagar, Gulmit, Skardu, Sadpara Lake, Deosai National Park & Khunjerab National Park, Kachura Lake, Shigar Valley and Khaplu Valley Karakoram Highway (KKH) � The Silk Route The Karakoram Highway � 805 kilometres dual carriage all weather road � connecting Rawalpindi/Islamabad with China�s Xinjiang province is the Northern Areas link to the rest of Pakistan. KKH starts from Havelian and winds through Abbottabad-Mansehra-Thakot-Besham-Pattan-Sazin-Chilas- Gilgit-Hunza to the Chinese Frontier across the 4,733 metres high Khunjerab Pass. The road built by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) of Pakistan Army in association with the Chinese experts and technicians has been described as a marvel of civil engineering and even as "the Eighth Wonder of the World." Completed in 15 years (1962- 78), it has been forced through some of the world�s toughest terrain. The road not only opens up the Northern Areas to trade and travel but also provides easy access to hitherto closed regions, connected by jeep or goat tracks (PTDC, 2000). Apart from its strategic importance, KKH is also historically significant since it follows closely that segment of the ancient silk route, which passed through the Northern Areas. The Silk Route connected Europe, Central Asia, China, Northern Areas and India. It was not only a major trading route but was also used by pilgrims and explorers for travelling to India, China and Central Asia. Buddhist monks from India spread the teachings of Buddhism in China and South East Asia through the Silk Route. History The Northern Areas of Pakistan has a long and turbulent history. Despite being almost cut off from the rest of the world due to its geography, the people of the area never remained isolated and were influenced by the events taking place in the Central Asia, India, Persia and China. This area has been known as �Dardistan� and �Boloristan� in the historical works. The British historians coined the term Dardistan � to describe the ethnically and culturally diverse inhabitants of the area as one homogenous group � based on the accounts of the Herodotus and Sanskrit texts, which refer to the people of the area as �Dards�. The locals never call or have called themselves Dards, expect for a brief period in medieval times, where the inscriptions point to Dard kings in the Kishanganga valley. The term Boloristan is probably linked to Patola Shahi rulers of the area who were called Bolo or Balor by the Arabs and hence the area Boloristan. The people of the area are descendents of the earliest Indo �Aryan tribes, who migrated from Trans-Pamir region between 2000 and 1500 BC, and settled in the northern mountain valleys � the present day Chitral and Northern Areas. A brief historical description of the area, from pre-history to the modern times � based, to a large extent, on the rock engravings and inscriptions, discovered at various parts of Northern Areas � is given below. Pre-History (The Rock Art People): The earliest inhabitants of this area � their history can be traced back to about 5 th millennium B.C. � can be termed the �People of the Rock Art� as it was they who started the tradition of rock engravings in the Northern Areas, which was continued by their successors up to the modern times. They were hunters and food gatherers, hunting collectively and living in rock shelters and dried up river channels. They used to cross the river Indus by rafts or logs with no knowledge of boat making. Animal skin was used as protection from cold and in latter stages, they developed family system with proper roles for men, women and children. They used to practice a religion based on the fear and worship of mountains..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 4 The Megalith Builders The next group of people to inhibit and dominate this area is known as the Megalith Builders. These newcomers, with direct links to Chitral and Swat, introduced the art of building huge megaliths and pit grave burial. They used to practice the art of stone cutting and used copper, bronze, iron, gold and silver for making tools and other objects, which suggests economic activity. They developed terrace fields along the slopes of the mountains, which were irrigated through cutting channels from rivers and streams. Use of domesticated cattle and horses was also prevalent but not common. Dardic People Herodotus in his accounts of the area mentions �Dardic� people living in the present day Northern Areas during the reign of Achaemenian Empire (4 th Century BC). He mentions the subjugation of these people to the Achaemenian Empire. They paid a tribute to the empire and served in its armies along with the Gandharians and other tribes. The evidence suggests that there was some sort of political state or states of the people described as Dards or Dardic by Herodotus. These people mined and traded gold, which helped the area in becoming centre of economic and trading activities and opening of a trade route from Central Asia and China to India through this area. Scytho � Parthians Various rock inscriptions around Chilas suggest that the Scythians from Central Asia had established their rule in this area around first B.C. Their first king � Moga � defeated a local ruler Gopadasa, who was probably a Buddhist. The rule of Scythians resulted in the introduction of Kharoshti script and Taxila style stupas into the area and establishment of close trade relations with Taxila. The Scythian rule lasted about two generations � between 1 BC and 1 AD - followed by the Gondophares branch of Parthians. The influence of Parthians on local culture is evident from the rock carvings of this era, which has a distinct Parthian touch and depicts themes totally new to this area such as Parthian soldiers and chariots etc. Kushans Kushans, after extending their empire to Central Asia, Kabul Valley and Indus Valley, moved north � to establish their rule in this region � in the beginning of the 1 st Century AD. The Kushans used gold, mined in the area, to engage in trade with Central Asia and China, which lead to the opening of many silk routes, at least one of them passed through the present day Northern Areas. The Kushans brought stability and prosperity to the area and Buddhism flourished under their rule. Post-Kushan Period In the beginning of the 3 rd century AD, this area came under the control of Sassanians from Persia. A branch of Kushans � the Kidar Kushans � still ruled the area but as subordinates to the Sassanians. The culture of the area was greatly influenced by India, Gupta Brahami gradually replaced Kharoshti script, as illustrated by the rock carvings of the period. During this period, Buddhism continued to flourish and the area was a popular route between China, India and Central Asia, used by both traders and pilgrims. Towards the end of the 4 th century AD the influence of Sassanians started to wane. Huns The White Huns � warrior tribe or tribes from Central Asia � conquered Kabul Valley, Indus Valley and Northern Areas in the early 6 th century AD. They ruled through several local Shina and Burushiski kings called �Rajas�, subordinate to the Hun Emperor. Huns were non-Buddhist and hence the official patronage of Buddhism stopped during their reign, but the people of the area continued to practice Buddhism. Medieval to Modern Times As the Hun power declined, the local rajas got independent. The area was ruled from 612 AD to 750 AD by Patola Shahi dynasty. The Patola Shahi�s were Buddhist and had close ties with Chinese.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 5 empire. Patola were called �Pa lo la� by Chinese and �Balol� or �Balor� by the Arabs who referred to the area as Boloristan. After the Patola Shahi dynasty, most of the area came under the control of the Turks � deposed from their Central Asian home by the Arab conquest. These Turks were, most probably, fire worshippers, while the people at large still practiced Buddhism. Locals described as �Dards� in the rock inscriptions ruled the northern Kishanganga valley. This is the only instance of the people of the area using the term �Dards� for themselves. Later the Skardu valley came under the control of Tibetans for sometime. The following dynasties ruled different parts of Northern Areas during Medieval times (from 7 th century AD to early 19 th century AD): � Tarkhans of Gilgit. � Maglots of Nagar � Ayash of Hunza � Burushai of Punial � Makpons of Skardu � Amachas of Shigar � Yabgus of Khaplu A prince from Badakhshan started the Tarkhan dynasty. The Tarkhan rulers converted to Islam in early 8 th century AD while the population continued to be Buddhist until they converted to Islam after a few decades through the preaching of Sufi saints from Central Asia. The founders of Maglot dynasty of Nagar and Ayash dynasty of Hunza were both Tarkhan princess. The Makpon dynasty of Skardu originated in early 13 th century AD after a long Tibetan rule. The dynasty is traced back to a local �Fakir� Makpon Bokha. A conflicting account refers to Ibrahim Shah from Kashmir who established his rule in the area and started Makpon dynasty. Mir Shamsuddin Iraqi spread Islam in this area in 16th century. In Medieval times, the area remained outside the Mughal control. Although Akbar conquered Kashmir and parts of Baltistan, Gilgit continued to have an independent status until the Northern Areas came under the control of Dogra rulers of Kashmir in mid 19 th century. The British created Gilgit Agency and appointed a political agent, at the end of 19 th century under a lease agreement with Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir, to counter the threat of Russian empire. Gilgit was returned to Dogra Maharaja on 1 st August 1947. The people of Gilgit and Baltistan, reacting to the Dogra Maharaja�s accession to India started an armed struggle against him. The struggle, lead by Gilgit Scouts and Muslim officers of Kashmir State Forces, managed to take control of the areas comprising Northern Areas and Azad Kashmir by January 1, 1949 when the ceasefire was announced. The Northern Areas became a part of Pakistan in 1949. Archaeological Sites Northern Areas has been influenced by various cultures and civilizations through out history. Its unique location � the main trading route between India, China and Central Asia (Silk Route) passed through the area � not only made it a meeting place for traders and pilgrims, but also attracted emperors and conquers from Central Asia and Persia. They influenced the local culture and left their imprints in the form of rock carvings and inscriptions. Numerous sites from various periods � depicting the rich archaeological heritage - have been discovered all over the area, mainly concentrated along the silk route, while many more sites remain to be excavated and explored. The history of Northern Areas has been reconstructed based on this �Rock Art�..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 6 Some of the important archaeological sites and artefacts from the Northern Areas are described below: Thakot Few kilometres short of Thakot, close to the village of Peshewri, a rock shelter called Kala Tasa have paintings of Buddhist era (1 st A.D.), painted in red and white on the surface inside the cave. According to experts, these are some of the earliest examples of cave paintings discovered so far in the area. Pattan A gold ornament shaped like a necklace and weighting 16 Kilograms, was found by a local woman in Pattan area. This unique ornament � decorated with forms of animals and humans � is presently stored at Peshawar Museum. Little is known about its real nature, since there is no other similar example from the area. Due to its weight, it is suggested that it was probably a griddle rather than a necklace. It has also been suggested (Nasim, 1996) that ornament may have been a huge necklace, an offering to the huge wooden image of Maitreya. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen Tsang, in the early 7 th Century AD, described this wooden statue � at Darel Valley � to be more than 100 feet high. The figures on the ornament have characteristics of Scythian art of 1 st century BC. Dasu At Dasu, many graves dating back to the Iron Age (1000 BC) have been discovered. The graves are located on the right bank of the Indus, about two kilometres from Kumela towards Seo valley. Chilas Chilas was the meeting point for the pilgrims and traders from China, Central Asia and India. Consequently, a large number of inscriptions and engravings � on various rocks and boulders � have been discovered in and around Chilas town on both sides of River Indus. The earliest engravings are from pre-historic times (around 5 th Millennium BC) depicting the forms of animals, birds, humans, hunting scenes and hand and foot impressions. These pictorial engravings and inscriptions in Kharoshti, Brahami, and Chinese (at Thalpan) continued through different periods up to the medieval times. Gandhara, Tibet, Parthia, China and Central Asia influenced the rock art at different times. In Chilas, engravings and inscriptions from Scythian, Parthian, Khushan, Huna, and Patola Shahi periods have been discovered. In the later periods, the themes changed from simple hunting scenes to battle scenes, pictures of soldiers and kings, Buddhist monks and stupas. The main sites of these rock carvings at Chilas are: Thalpan, Ziarat (near Thalpan) various sites in and near Chilas town on both sides of river Indus, Thor and Butogah. Shin Nala At Shin Nala (42 Kilometres from Chilas) there is Buddhist complex, complete with images of Buddha and stupas. This complex is from the early Buddhist period. Most of the carvings in the complex belong to 4 th /5 th century A.D. Alam Bridge There are several inscriptions on the rocks, near the Alam Bridge, in Indian script (Kharoshti, Brahmi), representing the Indian influence on the area. The figural drawings are mostly animal carvings and Stupas, showing Central Asian influence, particularly in case of animal depiction. Gilgit In Gilgit there are several archaeological sites including the carved image of Buddha (the Kargah Buddha), the Noorpur stupas and a stupa locally known as Mughal Minar. Besides the above-mentioned sites, many other archaeological remains � mostly rock carvings � can be seen in area, most important site being Keno Daas � Just outside Gilgit, towards Hunza..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 7 Danyor Inscription is located on the left bank of Gilgit River on Gilgit-Hunza Road. It is a huge boulder bearing inscriptions from 7 th /8 th century A.D. It is the only archaeological site in Northern Areas, which is protected under the Pakistan Antiquities Act. Hunza The most important site of the area is called the �Sacred Rock of Hunza�, situated about two kilometres from Ganesh village on the KKH. Skardu One of the most important sites of the area is known as �Manthal Rock� engraved with Buddhist inscriptions in Tibetan and several Buddha figures. This gigantic rock shows the influence of Tibetan rule in the area. Similar inscriptions from the Buddhist era can be seen on the rocks near Satpara Lake. Shigar Valley Many archaeological remains, including rock carvings and walled structures have been discovered in the valley. The most important site is a Buddhist monastery, paintings and carvings. The approximate date of these remains is 4 th � 5 th century A.D. Astor Valley A good number of archaeological sites can be seen in this area. Though the valley is archaeologically unexplored, but the antiquities from the area confirm the presence of many grave culture sites in the area. Yasin At Yasin, there are several megalithic stone circles dating back to 1 st millennium BC. Languages The Northern Areas show the most intricate pattern and diversity of languages. The linguistics experts broadly divide the many languages spoken by the local inhabitants into two categories: Dardic and non-Dardic languages. A brief description of the major local languages (both Dardic and Non-Dardic) is given below: Dardic Languages Khowar Although it is the main language of Chitral � spoken by the �Kho� the most important tribe of Chitral � Khowar speakers can also be found in Yasin and in some parts of Gilgit. Shina It is the major language spoken in the Gilgit valley, Palas and Astor. Shina speakers can also be found in Hunza, Ishkoman and Baltistan. It is spoken in many different dialects such as Gilgit dialect, Palas Dialect, Tangir Dialect etc. Maiyan It is the least known of all Dardic languages, spoken in Kandia, Bankar, Patan and Indus Kohistan area..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 8 Non-Dardic Languages Burushaski It is the major language of Hunza and Nagar and is also spoken in some parts of Yasin. Burushaski is a unique language and have no established relationship with any of the other languages spoken in the area. It is still an unwritten language, but some of the European scholars have used Roman script for writings in Burushaski. Domaaki It is the language of Domas � A community of musicians and smiths � settled in Hunza. This Indo-Aryan language is now a dying language because the new generation of Domas communicate mainly through Burushaski and Shina � the dominant languages of the area. Wakhi A few thousand people in the upper Hunza valley and upper Ishkoman speak this language. The majority of Wakhi speakers live in upper Oxus valley, which is under the territorial control of Afghanistan and Central Asian republics. Balti Balti � a Tibetan idiom close to Ladakhi � is spoken in the western Baltistan in the areas around Skardu. Apart from these local languages Urdu, being the national language of Pakistan, is widely understood, while some of the settlers also speak Punjabi, Pushto and Gujari..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 9 ISSUES AND TRENDS Issues Policy Formulation and Implementation Issues There is an urgent need for policy formulation, planning and implementation at the local level, in consultation with all the stakeholders in Northern Areas. The disadvantage of centralized policy making system is that many issues do not get proper attention because they may not seem to be important in the broader perspective, but may be vital in the context of specific area. Although the Northern Areas Administration has notified Northern Areas Tourism Development Board as a policy-making forum, the Northern Areas Tourism Policy � prepared by Northern Areas Tourism Development Board - is still in the unapproved draft form. There are no regulations for quality control and ensuring the standards of services offered by tourism businesses. Northern Areas Tourism Development Board can play a very effective role as far as policymaking is concerned, but there is a need for an agency, which would implement the plans and regulations formulated by Northern Areas Tourism Development Board, in the same way as in the provinces where policy formulation is done by the Tourism Departments while the provincial tourism development corporations are responsible for implementation. The members of Northern Areas Tourism Development Board are all volunteers having their own jobs and businesses to take care of. They can provide valuable input on policy level, but may not be able to carry out and supervise the implementation of the policies, since that is a full time job requiring undivided attention. There are no standards or qualifications (knowledge of mountaineering techniques, languages, communication skills etc) for granting of licenses to mountaineering guides and selection of liaison officers, resulting in poor quality of services offered. There is also a serious issue of funding the tourism development programmes. The revenue generated from royalty paid by mountaineering and trekking expeditions is collected by the Ministry of Tourism, which is not necessarily spent in Northern Areas. This issue needs to be discussed with the Ministry of Tourism and an appropriate system should be put in place in this regard. Lack of Authentic Tourism Statistics Planning and policy formulation in any sector, without authentic data, is very difficult and it is almost impossible in tourism sector, where policies have to be tailored according to the preferences of tourists, ascertained on the basis of actual market data. The statistical wing, Ministry of Tourism, Government of Pakistan, compiles statistics about number of international tourists and expeditions (mountaineering, trekking etc) visiting Pakistan. Unfortunately statistics such as: number of tourists (domestic + international) visiting different districts, valleys, tourist spots etc in Northern Areas; number of tourist classified age wise, activity wise etc; number of tourists using different categories of tourist services e.g. hotels, tour operators, transport etc. is not available. This results in tourism planning which does not reflect the ground realities. Inadequate Infrastructure Although Northern Areas are connected with the rest of the country through Karakoram Highway (KKH), which is considered an engineering marvel, there is still much room for improvement as far as the condition of this road is concerned, which makes the long journey from Islamabad more tedious for the tourists. There are no proper resting areas along the KKH with rest, food, toilet and communications facilities. However, there are a few places (hotels, PTDC motels etc) in major cities and towns along the route but they are few and far between. These facilities are not standardized, so the tourists do not know before hand what kind of services and facilities to expect. There are two Airports in Northern Areas, one at Gilgit and the other at Skardu. These airports provide an alternative � both for tourists and local population � to the long journey by road. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) operates daily flights on Islamabad-Gilgit and Islamabad-Skardu routes..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 10 Gilgit airport has a short runway, which could only be used by the smaller Fokker F-27 aircraft, while for flights to Skardu airport Boeing 737 aircraft are also used. Both of these airports lack modern navigation facilities, which makes landing and takeoffs dangerous during rain or over cast weather, resulting in frequent cancellations of flights. This uncertainty about the operation of flights to Northern Areas creates a major hindrance for the tourists who have no choice but to allocate at least two days to travel by road, thus disturbing their preset itineraries. All the major towns and cities of Northern Areas are connected with the rest of the country and the world through telephone network, but the performance is far from satisfactory. The system is frequently out of order and it becomes very difficult to communicate with the outside world. E-mail services are only available in Gilgit, with just one ISP (Comsats) offering the service. Security Security for the tourists in Northern Areas, in particular along the parts of KKH passing outside the big towns and cities is an issue. Some of the recent incidents such as stoning of cyclists etc can create a bad image for the entire area both nationally and internationally, adversely affecting tourism industry. Opposition of religious leaders to certain tourist events, such as festivals etc can not only create an undesirable situation for tourists but can also lead to division and conflicts among the local population. Marketing For selling any product in competitive markets, a proper marketing strategy is essential. Though various tourism products from Northern Areas are marketed at individual level by concerned government agencies, tour operators, hoteliers etc, but a coordinated product and image development and overall marketing strategy is lacking, which can, in the long run, hinder development of tourism in the area due to tough competition from other countries and regions who are selling similar tourism products with the help of an aggressive marketing strategy. Availability of accurate information about tourist destinations and related facilities plays a vital role in choice of destination � by both tourists and tour operators. A number of brochures about Northern Areas are available at PTDC Tourist Information Centres (TICs) and with tour operators, but these brochures do not provide all the requisite information. Lack of Human Resource Development There is a lack of trained tourism professionals (e.g. guides, porters, hoteliers etc) in Northern Areas, which greatly affect the services provided to the tourists. Tourism is a services oriented industry and the quality if services offered to the tourists can have major impacts on the sector. There are no institutions/organizations catering to the capacity building of stakeholders in tourism industry. There are a few institutes at Karachi, Rawalpindi and Swat, providing training in hotel management and ticketing etc. but they are out of reach of majority of the stakeholders because of the high cost of training and their location outside Northern Areas. Lack of Understanding about Ecotourism There is general lack of understanding and confusion about the term �Ecotourism� by the stakeholders. This term has become a buzzword and every activity involving nature based tourism � whether socially and environmentally sustainable or not � is termed as ecotourism. A proper understanding of the term is essential because ecotourism, if not properly planned and managed can do more harm than conventional tourism, because it deals with fragile environments and sensitive cultures. Similarly, the potential benefits that the development of ecotourism in the area can bring to the local communities, private sector and natural environment are not properly understood by the stakeholders and hence little has been done so for development and promotion of ecotourism. Environmental Issues Tourism infrastructure development is taking place all over the Northern Areas without any land use planning and zoning, which can result in un-planned and un-manageable towns and cities and could, ultimately, destroy the natural beauty of the area, on which the whole tourism sector is based..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 11 The tourism flow is un-regulated without any regard to the carrying capacity of a particular destination. Carrying capacities have not been calculated for any of the major tourist destinations in Northern Areas. The large amount of solid and human waste left by the expeditions on all popular trekking routes and base camps, not only is an eye sore for the tourists, but is also a serious threat to the natural environment. There is no proper waste disposal system (apart from occasional clean-up expeditions) in the area. Majority of the local guides, porters, tour operators and hoteliers are not aware of the environment friendly trekking and mountaineering techniques including, proper waste management, recycling, use of alternative fuels etc. There are no guidelines and very few awareness programmes to address this issue. Cultural Heritage Northern Areas have a rich and diverse cultural heritage. Cultural events, such as cultural festivals can be used as marketing tools for culture of any area, resulting in economic benefits to the host communities and local businesses. Cultural events and festivals are held in different parts of Northern Areas but they are not properly planned i.e. the dates are not fixed in advance and information about the events is not available to the domestic and international tourists, thus the potential benefits of these festivals are not realized to its full extent. Little attention is being paid to the protection of the unique archaeological and architecture heritage of Northern Areas. Only one of the famous rock carvings � The engraved rock at Danyor � is on the protected list of the Federal Government. The information about the archaeological sites is scattered and needs to be collated and compiled at single place for the convenience of tourists and researchers. There is lack of awareness among the tourists about the local culture and archaeological sites due to lack of information and promotion, both nationally and internationally There are no facilities, like rest area, food, toilets etc, at most of the archaeological sites, creating difficulties for the tourists and researchers alike. There are also no museums in the area to preserve, display and promote the archaeological and cultural artefacts of the area. There is very little effort for linking the cultural heritage to economic benefits for the local artisans with activities like sale of handicrafts to the tourists, establishment of art galleries/display points, museums, arts and crafts festivals. The local tourism related businesses, usually, do not promote local architecture and food. The local languages and culture do not get due representation in electronic media (e.g. Pakistan Television) There are few regional institutions for promotion of local culture and arts, but no central institution like NA Arts Councils, which can promote the art and artists from the entire region. There is also no institution for preservation of local literature and promotion of local languages Trends Much has been said and written about the potential for development of tourism in Northern Areas. Its natural assets: mountains, glaciers, valleys etc. its cultural heritage, its built heritage and the rich archaeological heritage. However, the real challenge is to convert the tourism potential of the area into tangible economic benefits for all the stakeholders involved in environmentally sustainable manner. Unfortunately, for certain reasons, which are discussed elsewhere in this paper, this has not been fully achieved yet. There are no official tourism statistics available for the Northern Areas, such as the number of tourists � both foreign and domestic visiting the area, the average length of stay, and the revenue generated.NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 12 etc. which makes it almost impossible to analyse the trends, past and present, in the sector. However, the Ministry of Tourism Government of Pakistan has compiled the following tourism statistics about international tourism in Pakistan: 1999 2000 Total Foreign Tourists Arrivals in Pakistan 432,000 543,000 Income from International Tourism (State Bank of Pakistan Statistics) $ 76.4 Million $ 85.6 Million Income from International Tourism (Tourism Survey conducted by WTO/UNDP Team) $ 382.8 Million $ 385.7 Million Statistics pertaining to the foreign mountaineering and trekking expeditions to Northern Areas and Northern NWFP, compiled by Ministry of Tourism are reproduced below: 1999 2000 Mountaineering and Trekking Royalty Received $ 477,743 $ 592,550 Number of Mountaineering Expeditions --- 68 (with 359 members) Number of Trekking Expeditions --- 168 (with 861 members) Though no statistics are collected concerning domestic tourism, the Ministry of Tourism estimates that around 37 million domestic tourists travelled within Pakistan during 2000. In 1999, there were 663 million tourist arrivals worldwide; generating $453 billion in revenues (source: WTO). It is estimated that the total global tourist arrivals would reach one billion by 2010. It is obvious from the statistics that tourism can make a major contribution to the economic development of a country like Pakistan with great potential for cultural and nature-based tourism. However, Pakistan was destination for only 432,000 international tourists � 0.65% of the total 663 million that travelled - during 1999, which is almost negligible given the potential and tourism products that Pakistan has to offer, which, indicate major deficiencies in our tourism development policies. As is obvious from the above, no specific conclusions can be drawn about the tourism sector in Northern Areas in the absence of Northern Areas specific tourism data. One thing is evident from huge difference between the tourism revenue calculated by the State Bank Pakistan and the WTO/UNDP Team � There are serious shortcomings in the current data collection mechanisms, which need to be rectified urgently. In General terms it can be said that up till now the efforts have been concentrated on attracting foreign mountaineering and trekking expeditions, with little attention paid to diversification of tourism products with development of ecotourism, low altitude trekking, cultural tourism and most importantly attracting domestic tourists. These issues and some of the possible ways ahead have been discussed in relevant sections of this paper..NACS Background Paper on Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Page 13 CONSEQUENCES OF INACTION If nothing is done to address the issues identified in the previous section, there can be serious economic, environmental and social repercussions in Northern Areas, both long term and short term. Without clear policy guidelines � which is possible only through local level consultative policy making systems and institutions � and accurate market data, the tourism sector development will remain directionless, planning would not reflect the on ground realities and the facilities and services offered by the private sector will not be based on tourist preferences, which would negatively affect the development of tourism industry in Northern Areas. In absence of quality standards and an effective rating system, there is always uncertainty about the quality of services offered by hotels, tour operators and guides etc, which cam have a bad impression of tourists and may lead to conflicts. The frequent cancellation of flights during the tourist season, disturbing the itineraries of tourists, the not so good condition of KKH and the lack of rest facilities along the long route would create difficulties for the tourists reaching Northern Areas. Similarly, the inadequate telecommunication facilities make it difficult for tourists to connect to the rest of the world or even rest of the country from Northern Areas. The lack of security or even the perception of the lack of security in certain areas of Northern Areas can discourage tourist from visiting the area. Lack of proper promotion and marketing and non availability of information about the tourist destinations in Northern Areas mean that very little is known about the area and the number of tourists visiting the area would not increase over time and may even decrease. Lack of trained tourism professionals would lead to poor quality of services offered to the tourists seriously affecting this services based industry. All the a

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