DefinePK

Abstract

 Tourism is a crucial factor in economic development, especially inareas with strong cultural traditions and scenic beauty. Situated in thefoothills of the Himalayas, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) has a greatdeal of unexplored potential for tourism growth. In addition to outliningsound tactics for developing a vibrant tourist and hospitality industry,this study seeks to assess tourism’s economic influence in AJK. Thisdissertation weighs the economic assistance of tourism in AJK over thespan of three years. The study employs a Triangulation approach e. Thisparticular study was designed through the use of surveys, officialreports, and academic literature. The study highlights the economicbenefits of tourism in AJK, including the establishment ofinfrastructure and opening the way for SMEs (Small and mediumenterprises). However, the hurdles faced by AJK are scarce marketing,geopolitical instability, and environmental issues that hamper itsrealization. This study also uncovers the ground realities of touristdestinations. The results suggest proactive interventions regardinginvestment policies, sustainable environmental management, andupgrading the skills to crack tourism potential and promote economicdevelopment. This study also analyzes that the implementation ofcapital-intensive projects can bolster the tourism infrastructure andemphasize the sophisticated econometric modeling techniques toanalyze tourist preferences and spending patterns, thereby informingthe design and implementation of targeted marketing strategies. Thisapproach involves deploying predictive analytics algorithms tosegment tourist markets based on socio-economic factors, which can beused for developing evidence-based policies for tourism'stransformative capacity as a catalyst for equitable economic growth inthe region.