JAKARTA - The natural beauty of Pakistan, which is hidden behind the label of conflict countries and Muslim-majority countries, does not seem to have been fully recognized by the Indonesian people. Pakistan has experienced various conflicts, such as conflicts with India, the SARA conflict, and conflicts with Afghanistan.
However, there is a new perspective that tries to uncover the extraordinary tourism potential that exists in this country. One of the figures trying to introduce the beauty of Pakistan is AttaUl Karim, Chairman of the International Creative's Exchange (ICE).
This was revealed by Atta through the launch of the website www.pakistanindonesia.com, a website that aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in various sectors as well as commemorate 75 years of bilateral relations between Indonesia and Pakistan.
"There is a lot, in Pakistan there is snow. In some areas of Pakistan there is snow," said Atta Ul Karim enthusiastically, when met at PPKD Central Jakarta recently.
This statement certainly invites curiosity, considering that Pakistan has been better known for the image of a country that is often affected by conflict.
However, the fact is that this country stores a number of very potential tourist destinations. One of them is the beauty of the mountains and the snow that envelopes various regions there. Atta also shared stories about his efforts to introduce the beauty of Pakistan through films.
"One day I proved it, I brought a Pakistani film to Indonesia, I showed the beauty of Pakistan and Alhamdulillah, some celebrities have been brought to Indonesia to show their quality," he said.
Through an approach like this, Atta hopes that the Indonesian people can see another side of Pakistan which is full of stunning natural beauty, while realizing that many tourist destinations have not been touched by many people.
Doc. International Creative's Exchange (ICE)
However, behind its natural beauty, there are major challenges in developing the Pakistan tourism sector. Sean Richard Bangun, a member of the Indonesian Tourism Association, realized that although the tourism potential in Pakistan is very large, this sector has not yet developed optimally.
"Yes, people know about it in Pakistan, a conflict country, a very Muslim country. If the previous collaboration of culture and tourism must be slowly changed," said Sean.
One of the reasons why Pakistan's tourism potential is not maximal is the negative image inherent in this country. Although many areas of Pakistan are safe and peaceful, feelings of fear and lack of information are often obstacles.
"Security in Pakistan needs to be sure. Personally, I haven't really researched the area, only information from Mr. Atta, franging is a conflict country, but actually from there it's cool. This should be promoted in Indonesia, if in Pakistan it's actually safe," said Sean.
This shows the importance of more active promotions to change negative perceptions of Pakistan, as well as provide accurate information about security there. The Indonesian people must know that many areas in Pakistan are safe to visit. In addition, Sean also highlighted Pakistan's extraordinary natural beauty.
"Indeed, I see that foreign tourism in Pakistan has not been developed too much. But the tourism potential after I searched, the tourism was extraordinary," he said.
One of the uniquenesses of Pakistan is the presence of Mount K2, the second highest mountain in the world after Mount Everest. This mountain attracts climbers from all over the world, but its accessibility is still limited. Not only mountains, Pakistan also has a number of very beautiful valleys.
"The valleys in Indonesia are better, but in Pakistan it is much better. From the tourism sector it is very good and superior, it should be a collaboration between Indonesia and Pakistan," he said.
Valleys such as the Hunza Valley and the Swat Valley are known for their stunning natural scenery and are perfect for tourists seeking peace in the still beautiful nature.
With abundant natural potential, Pakistan actually has an advantage in the tourism sector that is not widely known by the international community. If the development of this sector is carried out seriously and involves cooperation between Indonesia and Pakistan, then these two countries can take advantage of the existing potential to bring in more tourists from various parts of the world.
Indonesia and Pakistan have the potential to work together in the tourism sector, considering that both have unique culture and nature that can complement each other.
This collaboration can be started by introducing superior tourist destinations to each country, as well as creating more effective and integrated promotion channels. Along with the development of information technology and social media, as did celebrities who helped promote the beauty of Pakistan, this collaboration could achieve a wider audience.
Through this collaboration, Indonesia and Pakistan will not only increase the tourism sector, but also open opportunities to learn from each other about the culture, history, and natural beauty of each country.
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