The travel and tourism sector contributed Rs930.9 billion, that is 2.9 per cent of Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP), in 2017 and is forecasted to rise this year.
The direct contribution of travel and tourism in Pakistan is forecasted to rise by 5.9 per cent to Rs986 billion in 2018, the World Travel and Tourism Council said in its annual Economic Impact Report on Thursday.
The contribution primarily reflects the economic activity generated by industries such as hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services). But it also includes, for example, activities of the restaurant and leisure industries directly supported by tourists.
The report further noted that the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP is expected to grow by 5.8 per cent to Rs1,727.7 billion (3.0 per cent of GDP) by 2028.
The total contribution of travel and tourism to GDP, including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts was Rs2,349 billion in 2017 (7.4 per cent of GDP) and is expected to grow by 5.8 per cent to Rs2,486 billion (7.4 per cent of GDP) in 2018.
Further, the report stated that travel and tourism generated 1,493,000 jobs directly in 2017 (2.5 per cent of total employment) and this is forecast to grow by 2.8Â per cent in 2018 to 1,534,000 (2.5 per cent of total employment).
The number of jobs includes employment by hotels, travel agents, airlines and other passenger transportation services (excluding commuter services).
By 2028, travel and tourism will account for 2,008,000 jobs directly, it added.
Meanwhile, the total contribution of travel and tourism to employment (including wider effects from investment, the supply chain and induced income impacts) was 3,894,000 jobs in 2017 (6.5Â per cent of total employment). This is forecasted to rise by 2.6Â per cent in 2018 to 3,997,000 jobs (6.5Â per cent of total employment).
