War, terror and tourism: Impact of violent events on international tourism in Chitral, Pakistan

Abstract

In mountain areas, tourism is one of the most dynamic and controversial elements of development. Terrorism, political instability and violence are among the most important factors controlling tourist fl ows particularly in the global south. In this paper, we aim to explore the connectivities between international or national events of violence, the role of the media as image-makers as regards travel safety and the impact on regional tourism and local livelihoods in high mountain Pakistan. Against the background of a fragile and vulnerable tourist sector the changes in tourist infl ow to Chitral (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Hindu Kush) have been correlated with violent events that happened from 1970 to 2009. Th e study shows close correlations between international or national events of violence and the tourist numbers. Most of the events which have aff ected tourism business are exogenous in origin. Th e fl uctuation in the tourist infl ow has caused damage to the livelihood strategies of actors depending heavily on tourism activities as a supplementary income. In this context, the role of the dominant mass media is infl uential and questionable. It can contribute to produce an imaginative geography of North Pakistan being violent and insecure, and a culture of fear that accompanies it.