CULTURAL TOURISM IN KAGHAN VALLEY: POTENTIAL AND PROBLEMS

Abstract

Cultural tourism is one of the earliest and significant motivation of the tourists. Every year thousands of tourists visit places of cultural attractions across the globe to satisfy their varying needs. Fortunately, Pakistan is among the countries blessed with rich and diverse cultures (both tangible and intangible) with a great potential to attract tourists from all over the world. Apart from the cultural resources, the country also has abundant natural destinations including lush green valleys with natural lakes and rivers, surrounded by mountains presenting panoramic views, desert, beaches and natural landscapes with unique species of birds, animals and plants. Kaghan valley, located in district Mansehra of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is one of the valleys with abundant cultural and natural resources. The valley, due to its pleasant weather attracts thousands of tourists from different parts of Pakistan and around the world during the summer (i.e. June-September). But, the potential of cultural tourism in the valley has not yet been identified and promoted to keep the flow of the tourists during the rest of the seasons. If proper measures be taken, the valley may attract a large number of cultural tourists and contribute to empower the community as well as to strengthen the GDP of the country. The current study aims to highlight the potential of cultural tourism; identify major problems and to suggest measures for the promotion of sustainable cultural tourism in the valley.                                                                                                                                            

Keywords: Cultural Tourism, Kaghan Valley, Mansehra, Folklores, Legends