Headline, August 10 2025/ PAKISTAN'S : ''' GENDERED TOURISM REVOLUTION '''

PAKISTAN'S :

 ''' GENDERED TOURISM REVOLUTION '''

THE WORLD STUDENTS SOCIETY - the exclusive and eternal ownership of every student, every woman of the world - rises to give the women of Proud Pakistan, the women of the whole world, a standing and a resounding ovation.

WOMEN WONDERS : MUCH OF THE RECENT RISE in wellness retreats - adventure tourism and group trips across Proud Pakistan has been spearheaded by women intent on carving out spaces where other women can safely travel.

As a result, many of these initiatives are more than just relaxing getaways - they offer a place where women can find camaraderie, joy and independence.

In a small quiet area in Skardu in July 2024, a group of female travellers lay down to watch the sky and star-gaze. Within the first 40 minutes, they'd counted 12 shooting stars, and no one was in the mood to leave.

In fact, for many, the experience meant so much that they came back again two-days later, choosing to skip the planned movie night to instead spend another few hours under the stars.

For Sawab Husnain, founder of  The Cherry Club - a luxury wellness retreat she hosts at the Byarsa Hotel in Skardu - this moment made all her planning and efforts worth it.

Husnain, who spent six years of her childhood living in Skardu on and off, tells Eos [Dawn] that her time there allowed her to explore the area in a new way - finding spots and locations that were off the beaten path.

This became a key inspiration once she started planning her retreat for The Cherry Club last year, where she focused on curating unique experiences for her fellow travellers.

Husnain reveals, '' Initially, I wanted people to see Skardu the way I see it, which is at a slower pace, because a lot of trips up north are very hustle-and-bustle, and I think nature is best appreciated slowly.

Even at a popular place such as Upper Kachura Lake, we have a secret spot and, whenever I take someone there, they are truly able to enjoy their surroundings.''

Husnain's is one of a growing number of  wellness and travel retreats in Pakistan being run by women. Husnain plans each part of the retreat in a way that's designed to show the group she's leading new aspects of Pakistan's north.

This includes the planning of new activities and experiences that help visitors connect with nature. But it's not just Husnain's knowledge that makes her so popular, particularly with women of all ages looking to travel up north.

For many female travellers, the manners in which Husnain tailors their stay in Skardu is what makes the experience worthwhile. According to Husnain. '' The reason there are more and more women signing for our retreat is because I have curated the retreat as something designed by a girl for other girls.

There are very few safe travel spaces for women in Pakistan to begin with, so when they find a place like this, they want to hold on to it. ''

She adds that, while she does run mixed groups as well, men need to be part of a couple or family, or they need a reference, as single men are not allowed to sign up with Husnain's group.

After having only 10 people for her first retreat last year, Husnain's retreat this year hosted 33 people, ranging across various ages - for couples that have been married for almost a decade, to teenage girls in search of adventure.

The exciting thing is that The Cherry Club is just one travel retreat being offered that's gained popularity in recent years as Pakistan sees a boom in local tourism particularly after the Covid pandemic and the travel restrictions that came with it.

But what's been more interesting in recent years is that, in a country known mainly for its adventure tourism and high mountain peaks -which have long awaited climbers from all over the world - women are now carving out a very unique travel space for themselves.

From taking a break at yoga and wellness retreats to exploring unknown parts of the country as solo travellers, women increasingly are emerging as shapers of Pakistan's travel industry in a completely new way over the last five years.

From Karachi to Islamabad, an increasing number of women are signing up to travel to different parts of Pakistan, with areas such as Skardu, Hunza and Ferry Meadows being some of the most popular.

The Honour and Serving of the Latest Global Operational Research on Women, Accomplishments and Future, continues. The World Students Society thanks Anmol Irfan.

With most respectful dedication to the Women of the World, and then Global Founder Framers of !WOW!, [ - for every subject in the world - ]  Students, Professors and Teachers.

See You all prepare for Great Global Elections on The World Students Society : wssciw.blogspot.com and Twitter X !E-WOW! - The Ecosystem 2011 :

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