The inquiry report on the Swat tragedy exposes serious negligence by the Tourism Department. It found no tourism officials were present at the site on the day of the incident. Despite legal duties, the Culture and Tourism Authority failed to license hotels in tourist areas properly and did not register hotels.
The report also revealed that tourism police were absent at the popular tourist spot Fiza Ghat. The tourism helpline (1422) meant for visitor assistance was inactive, and the public remained unaware of it. There was no tourist information or facilitation center at the district level, and travel agents operated without any oversight.
The hotel where tourists stayed was set up illegally on the riverbank without a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Management did not place any warning signs for tourists. Even during flood warnings, tourists were not stopped from approaching the river, which led to fatal consequences.
The report recommends registering cases against the hotel management for loss of precious lives. It urges strict enforcement of licensing systems for hotels and guest houses and calls for the permanent deployment of tourism police at tourist spots. Seasonal compliance certificates must be mandatory during the monsoon season.
It also suggests establishing facilitation centers at tourist destinations and launching media campaigns to raise safety awareness. The inquiry calls for action against unregistered travel agents and recommends completing departmental action against responsible officials within 30 days. The Tourism Department has already issued instructions based on these recommendations.