ISLAMABAD: China’s launch of a new digital tourism platform for international travelers is being viewed by experts as a potential model for Pakistan as it seeks to improve services for foreign visitors and expand its tourism economy.
The platform, called GO BEIJING, was developed by Beijing’s Municipal Government Service and Data Authority in partnership with Alipay and several government departments. According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, it provides overseas visitors with access to 39 services in 16 languages, including hotel bookings, ride-hailing, digital payments, ticket reservations and AI-powered travel assistance.
Experts told Wealth Pakistan that the initiative highlights the growing importance of digital infrastructure in tourism and could offer useful insights for Pakistan as it works to attract more international travelers and increase tourism-related revenue.
Integrated services seen as key to tourism growth
Mirza Amir, a faculty member at the University of the Punjab’s College of Tourism and Hotel Management, said modern tourism competitiveness depends not only on destinations but also on how easily visitors can access services, make payments and navigate a country.
He noted that foreign travelers in Pakistan often need to arrange transportation, accommodation, mobile connectivity and payments through separate systems, creating challenges during their visit.
Amir said Pakistan could study the single-window approach used by Beijing, where multiple tourism-related services are integrated into one platform. He suggested that a travel wallet developed with support from the State Bank of Pakistan, commercial banks and fintech companies could allow visitors to preload funds before arriving and make payments across hotels, restaurants, transport services and tourist sites.
According to him, such a system could simplify travel and improve the overall visitor experience.
Multilingual access could expand tourism markets
Amir also emphasized the importance of multilingual digital services, noting that Beijing’s platform supports several major international languages.
He said Pakistan’s tourism sector targets visitors from China, the Middle East, Central Asia and Europe, making language accessibility an important factor in reaching potential travelers.
A largely English-only digital interface, he added, may limit engagement with some international markets and reduce the effectiveness of online tourism promotion efforts.
Pakistan expanding digital tourism initiatives
Pakistan has already taken steps to strengthen its digital tourism presence. In February 2026, mobile phone manufacturer Vivo and the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) announced a partnership aimed at promoting the country’s tourism destinations through digital storytelling, training and capacity-building initiatives.
Industry stakeholders say greater integration of tourism services could further improve Pakistan’s appeal to international visitors.
Ameer Hamza Khan, founder of travel company PaharbyHK, said tourists in Pakistan often rely on multiple platforms to arrange transport, accommodation, payments and travel information.
He said international visitors increasingly expect seamless digital services and that difficulties with payments or language barriers can create uncertainty, particularly for first-time travelers.
Khan suggested that the government focus on providing regulatory support and digitized public services, while the private sector leads technology development and user experience design.
Digital integration could support tourism spending
Pakistan already operates an online visa system that, according to the official visa portal, is available to citizens of 192 countries.
Experts believe integrating visa approvals, destination information, verified tourism operators, transportation services and digital payments into a single visitor-focused platform could help convert easier access into higher tourism spending and stronger growth for the sector.
According to data cited from Statista, online sales are projected to account for 66 percent of Pakistan’s total tourism revenue by 2029, underscoring the growing role of digital services in the industry.
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