Pakistan Tourism Market Trends and Insights
Inbound travel is rebounding strongly following the rollout of e‑visas
Pakistan expanded its online visa services to 192 countries, simplifying travel planning for leisure and religious tourists and reducing uncertainties that previously hindered short-notice trips. The shift to a unified digital platform with clear categories and eligibility eased documentation for tour operators, benefiting the tourism market reliant on consistent entry rules during peak seasons. Sikh pilgrim visits to holy sites increased significantly in late 2024 and early 2025, reflecting steady demand beyond summer. Improved visa processes attract both returning diaspora and first-time visitors, enabling new offerings like family heritage tours in Punjab and faith-based city trips in Lahore and Nankana Sahib. Government mobility initiatives and Gulf hub airline schedules boost multi-country itineraries, helping Pakistan capture longer stays and higher spending per trip.A government‑led “Explore Pakistan” branding campaign is elevating the country’s global tourism profile
The federal government repositioned the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) to focus on policy support and national tourism branding, aiming to unify messaging across heritage, adventure, and faith tourism. The Pakistan tourism market benefits from directives prioritizing climate-conscious infrastructure and hotel upgrades in northern regions where demand exceeds capacity. PTDC operates a multilingual portal that catalogs attractions, offers travel guidance, and helps diaspora travelers plan trips combining family time with cultural and mountain excursions. The National Tourism Coordination Board and public entities organize efforts into themes like branding, adventure tourism, religious tourism, and investment facilitation, converting them into products and events. Partnerships with consumer tech brands enhance digital storytelling, reshaping Pakistan’s image for younger global audiences and increasing travel interest in key diaspora markets.Volatility of the currency against the USD is pushing package prices higher
An exchange rate shock from 2024 to 2025 increased local-currency costs for imported fuel, fittings, and food items, raising operating expenses and prompting quarterly supplier renegotiations, especially for smaller operators with limited hedging options. By 2025, foreign exchange reserves improved, and inflation eased from 2024 peaks, though service imports, including travel-related items, rose in early FY2025, limiting short-term discounting. The Asian Development Bank reported inflation moderation and rupee stabilization in 2025, aiding planning for Pakistan's tourism market in 2026. An October 2025 agreement between the IFC and the State Bank improved currency risk management in local lending, supporting capital expenditures during exchange-rate stress. A weaker rupee increased purchasing power for inbound visitors spending in hard currency, partially offsetting forex challenges for suppliers and operators in the tourism sector.Other drivers and restraints analyzed in the detailed report include:
- USD 10 billion in CPEC‑linked infrastructure upgrades is transforming connectivity and accessibility
- Digital booking adoption among Gen‑Z travelers is accelerating market penetration
- Security concerns in certain provinces are discouraging tourist confidence
Segment Analysis
Domestic tourists accounted for 90.85% of Pakistan's tourism market share in 2025, driven by population size, airfare costs, and visa challenges that favored local trips over international travel. International arrivals are projected to grow at a 12.05% CAGR through 2031, supported by e-visa access and airport upgrades. These changes are expected to attract first-time and repeat diaspora visitors, who often combine family visits with leisure trips. Road improvements, including the Karakoram Highway, enhance connectivity from Islamabad to northern valleys, enabling multi-stop itineraries. Stable Gulf route schedules and group offers align with diaspora travel patterns, strengthening international demand and reducing seasonality in the market.Domestic travelers remain the primary drivers of occupancy and transport use year-round, while diaspora visitors boost yields during peak holiday periods. Remittance inflows from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom (UK), and the United States of America (USA) align with diaspora visitor origins and support retail spending during VFR trips. Religious tourism, such as Sikh pilgrimages to Nankana Sahib and the Kartarpur Corridor, provides a counter-seasonal boost, supporting year-round operations. Clear compliance under the FBR framework reduces friction for operators managing mixed clientele. Transparent visa processes and stable routes are expected to increase repeat visits and extend the average stay for inbound travelers balancing family and leisure activities.
Complete Report Scope:
- By Origin
- Domestic
- International
- By Type
- Accommodation Services
- Travel Services
- By Purpose
- Leisure
- Business
- Visiting Friends & Relatives (VFR)
- Religious
- Meetings-Incentives-Conferences-Exhibitions (MICE)
- Other Purposes
List of Companies Covered in this Report:
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
- Airblue
- SereneAir
- Hashoo Group (Pearl-Continental & Marriott Pakistan)
- Serena Hotels
- Avari Hotels International
- Jovago.pk
- SastaTicket.pk
- Daewoo Express
- Faisal Movers
- PTDC Motels & Flashman’s
- Fly Jinnah
- Pristine Adventures Pakistan
- Hunza Explorers
- Rahgeer Pakistan
- Pakistan Railways Tourism Trains
- Marco Polo Travels
- Adventure Tours Pakistan (ATP)
- Hunza Adventure Tours
- Karakoram Club
Additional Benefits:
- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
- 3 months of analyst support
Table of Contents
Companies Mentioned (Partial List)
A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to:
- Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)
- Airblue
- SereneAir
- Hashoo Group (Pearl-Continental & Marriott Pakistan)
- Serena Hotels
- Avari Hotels International
- Jovago.pk
- SastaTicket.pk
- Daewoo Express
- Faisal Movers
- PTDC Motels & Flashman’s
- Fly Jinnah
- Pristine Adventures Pakistan
- Hunza Explorers
- Rahgeer Pakistan
- Pakistan Railways Tourism Trains
- Marco Polo Travels
- Adventure Tours Pakistan (ATP)
- Hunza Adventure Tours
- Karakoram Club

