INP-WealthPk
Firefly Offers Huge Potential for Tourism Growth in Pakistan
February 24, 2022
By Faiza Tehseen
Islamabad, Feb. 24 (INP-WealthPK) Entomotourism (insect-focused tourism), especially firefly tourism, is growing apace across the globe with around 1.4 billion tourists from different parts of the world visiting caves and pavilions to watch the marvellous display of bioluminescence of the insect.
Firefly tourism has the potential to yield substantial economic and environmental benefits. According to a report prepared by the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), around 1.4 billion tourists travel worldwide to experience nature annually, adding at least US$1,451 billion to the international economic stream.
In Pakistan, fireflies can be easily found in humid areas like Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Murree, Abbottabad, Mansehra, Balakot, Naran, Kaghan, Sialkot and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, but unfortunately, they are gradually becoming extinct due to the destruction of their habitats mostly caused by the burgeoning urbanisation.
Realising the huge economic potential and environmental impact of this sector, Pakistan is going to announce its eco-friendly tourism policy in March this year for the next 10 years. Fireflies act as a natural indicator to monitor environmental changes. That’s why it is extremely important to save their habitats to balance the ecocycle in Pakistan.
Aftab-ur-Rahman, Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), in a detailed discussion with WealthPK shared, “Pakistan is keen to promote ecotourism. It will not only help attract a good number of tourists, but also help conserve our natural landmarks. In the coming month of March, Pakistan is going to announce its national tourism strategy, national tourism brand, visitors’ management strategy and minimum standards of tourism hospitality. It is a 10-year national plan to strengthen the tourism sector in Pakistan.”
Aftab said after the 18th Amendment, it’s the first ever revolutionary work going to be conducted by the federal government. He said the steps taken by the current government to protect nature were noteworthy. He said fireflies were a wonderful component of nature. They are also good natural indicators to monitor the environment, he further said and emphasised the need to make them a well-focused part of the national parks, for example, leopard sanctuary in the Margalla hills.
Aftab said PTDC was already planning to enhance the number of railed board walks to protect the larvae and vulnerable worms from trampling. Insects and worms can also be disturbed by noise. Charismatic bugs are too vulnerable to light. Special light arrangements to visit them are also a part of the plan. Awareness programs to visit such sanctuaries are also a part of the coming tourism agenda.
Aftab also welcomed the government departments interested in helping the PTDC in the growth of charismatic insects. Their return to natural habitats will help maintain the ecosystem at a large extinction level, he said.
Dr. Maqsood Shah, Associate Professor (Entomology) at the University of Agriculture, Peshawar, said, “A firefly acts as an environment indicator. Growth or decline in their population indicates the presence of pollutants, temperature change and the level of toxicity. They also play a strong role in maintaining the eco-biological level. It is true that the trend to visit butterfly fields is increasing. Unfortunately, fireflies are gradually becoming extinct in Pakistan because of the destruction of their habitats mostly due to urbanisation. Pakistan’s overall climate is superbly favourable for their growth. If people are educated about their ecological role, economic value and habitat protection, they will take them as a regular environment-friendly part. It is the best part of policy to make people a part of the campaign.”
Talking to WealthPk, Dr. Sohail Ahmed, head of Entomology Department of Agricultural University of Faisalabad, said charismatic bugs were a wonder of nature. He said the climate all over Pakistan was ultimately favourable for them.
“Their regular habitats are wetlands, mud water, damp places along with traditional water courses, sewerage damps, pasture lands, ponds, marshes, mangroves, leaf litter, ponds, rice paddies, rivers, etc. Firefly larvae are predaceous. Depending upon the species, firefly larvae can be terrestrial, semi-aquatic or fully aquatic,” said Dr. Sohail.
Continuing, he said urban colonisation, generous use of insecticides and construction of concrete water courses at large scale disturbed their growth badly. Air pollution also spoiled their natural sanctuaries. In Pakistan, they are mostly seen in early spring or during the monsoon season. Appreciating the theme of firefly tourism, Dr. Sohail said it will not only save them from extinction but as a natural indicator, they will again illuminate the ecological scenes. He said entomology departments could rare them in a controlled environment to make them a part of the ecocycle again.
Talking to WealthPk, Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal Chaudhry, Senior Manager Research and Conservation World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Pakistan, said Pakistan was badly in need of taking steps to save this environment-friendly insect.
“Officially, no specific study has been done in Pakistan on the firefly segment. WWF Pakistan is an eco-friendly organisation and we highly recommend ecotourism. WWF is an advocacy organisation to save wildlife. We recommend only that recreational activity which is in no way harmful or destructive for the natural habitat, eating or growing sanctuaries. WWF is in no way against the economic value of ecotourism until it is harmful in any way for any wild species”.
Meharban Karim, owner and CEO of Explore Pakistan Tours, a local tour operator, in his interview with WealthPK shared that he visited Kushiro Shitsugen National Park in Japan to see fireflies. For him, it was a natural wonder. He wished that such insects would illuminate Pakistan’s tourist sites again.
Firefly or ecological tourism will not only enhance tourism in Pakistan, but also help bring back an important character of the ecological cycle besides generating handsome foreign exchange.
