Security vs hospitality: a call for smarter tourism regulation in G-B

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by Ghulam Amin Beg

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Hunza’s breathtaking landscapes, nestled in the Karakoram mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan, have increasingly come to symbolize Pakistan’s tourism potential. With the region drawing thousands of domestic and international tourists annually, maintaining a balance between security and the preservation of its peaceful character has become an urgent priority.

In the wake of a tragic incident in Pahalgam valley of the Indian-administered Kashmir and subsequent threats issued by the Indian authorities, a wave of uncertainty has spread among local stakeholders.

In what appears to be a knee-jerk reaction, the district administration conducted security audit in haste categorizing small hotels as “high-risk” and often corporate-run large hotels as “low-risk” under what they called the guidance from the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA).

This move sparked controversy and concerns among from all segments of society – local businesses, small hotel owners, guesthouses, and tour operators, who are at the heart of community-driven tourism in Hunza, raising questions about the fairness and rationale behind such categorizations.

The Hunza Hotels Association recently issued a public resolution voicing their alarm over increasing pressure on small businesses during the short peak tourist season.  Their demands were clear: the government must refrain from deploying armed security guards in visible positions around peaceful tourist areas, as this creates fear among visitors and locals.

Instead, they urged the administration to focus on what truly matters — clean drinking water, uninterrupted electricity, improved internet connectivity, and sustainable waste management — all of which remain major bottlenecks in delivering a positive tourist experience in Hunza.

“Why is the government fixated on showcasing security when basic public services remain fragile?” asked one hotel owner in Karimabad. “Tourists don’t come to see guns; they come for [enjoying] peace, nature, and hospitality.”

While the need for security is real, especially in a volatile region like northern Pakistan, it is essential to recognize that providing protection to citizens and visitors is a core function of the state. Expecting small hotels and tour operators to hire armed guards is neither sustainable nor aligned with global best practices. Countries such as Egypt, Turkey, and Thailand have developed specialised tourist police forces that are professionally trained, culturally aware, and embedded discreetly in key tourist areas.

In Gilgit-Baltistan a similar force was established in 2019 and began deployment in 2020. Their role was envisioned as not just providing security but also guiding tourists, resolving disputes, and creating a welcoming environment. But instead of investing in the capacity and expansion of this dedicated force, the administration appears to be shifting the burden onto local businesses.

The Islamabad Government’s National Tourism Policy 2020 emphasizes the need for a “secure, inclusive, and enabling environment” for both domestic and international tourists. It calls for public-private partnership, destination-level management, and an integrated security system. However, the current approach in Hunza contradicts this vision by isolating local stakeholders from decision-making and projecting a security-first image that risks damaging the area’s reputation.

The way forward

For Hunza to emerge as a global tourism destination, its governance model must evolve from reactive enforcement to proactive collaboration.  A few key recommendations include:

1. Strengthen and expand the Tourist Police Force by investing in their training, mobility, language skills, and deployment in a discreet and tourist-friendly manner.

2. Avoid Visible Militarization of Tourism Spaces and rely on community-based vigilance, unarmed security protocols, and intelligence-sharing rather than over-armed presence.

3. Engage local tourism stakeholders — hotels association, guides, transporters, and youth groups – and make them part of district-level tourism and security planning.

4. Address basic service deficits, infrastructure gaps such as power outages, lack of water, weak internet, and poor sanitation. Ensuring provision of these facilities must be prioritised as demanded by the resolution of hotels’ association.

5. Align district policies with National Tourism Vision; and ensure that local administrative actions reflect the inclusive, sustainable, and facilitative ethos of the National Policy. It seems there is serious misalignment here.

Hunza is not just a tourist destination — it is a living cultural landscape that thrives on hospitality, trust, and community participation. Turning it into a gunned fortress under the guise of security will only alienate visitors and disempower locals and do bad marketing for tourism. What’s needed is a smarter, more balanced approach where safety and service go hand in hand, and where the state fulfils its rightful duty to protect without overburdening those who are already doing their part to build Pakistan’s tourism future.

Bottomline. Listen to the resolutions of the Hunza Hotels’ Association and related statements by their office-bearers, which were shared publicly on social media platforms, reflecting the collective concerns of local stakeholders regarding tourism management in the region.