Northern places like Murree, Malam Jabba and Skardu where the temperature falls well below -9 have been flooded by eager tourists for weeks. 50,000 cars are currently occupying the entire Murree region according to the Deputy Commissioner who asserts that it is well beyond the capacity of the town. As a strict travel advisory is issued for travellers, serious reflection must be done about the way tourism is being handled during these delicate times.
According to the authorities present in Murree, the town’s capacity is limited to providing space for 4000 cars. With 50,000 being driven in, the space is cramped, illegal parking along the road has enabled for traffic congestion to reach its peak and the presence of thick layers of snow is proving to be hazardous for the health and safety of all those present in the area. With hotels and restaurants also struggling to keep up with the demand, it is clear that the holiday destination is severely overburdened. While one can understand that such areas thrive and are sustained by tourism, there is also a dire need to maintain balance. The current situation is one that will have adverse effects on all the stakeholders; a busy region will discourage more tourists looking for a relaxing time away. The locals have to go above and beyond to cater to the needs of travellers, often falling short in the face of such unexpected traffic. The fresh environment is compromised by the countless carbon-releasing cars on standby for extended periods of time. Even the authorities are spread too thin over maintaining law and order, controlling traffic and facilitating people in a snowy climate. This reduces the quality of the experience and actively harms the environment. Imposing restrictions that limit access to such areas to a specific number of people is imperative. This way, the excess traffic can be diverted to other regions that will also be able to gain from the tourist season and will be able to decrease the load off of one destination. Otherwise, the entire system becomes completely unsustainable.
