Perched on the edge of the thick forest, overlooking pristine valleys, alpine meadows, snow-clad mountains, and fresh-water springs, Gabeen Jabba is destined to become the next top tourist destination in Swat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Once considered to be the main hub of all tourist activity, Swat valley has seen a considerable decline in tourism in recent years. Swat has much to offer, and with at least one-third of the region’s population comprising of youth, young people in the valley are determined to cultivate change and shape a positive future for themselves and their communities.

With support from Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has established a camping village in Gabeen Jabba, Swat district to promote tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Camping Village boasts of newly installed camping pods that are equipped with the highest quality, eco-friendly ‘green wood’ products to ensure low carbon footprints and reduced waste to promote eco-friendly tourism.

Together with Hashoo Foundation, at least twenty young people in Swat district are being trained in adventure tourism to help advance employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the local youth population.

Camping Villages across five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province will help revitalize the economy by providing sustainable livelihood opportunities to the local population and will open up new avenues of business development for youth. In close collaboration with the Department of Tourism, Sports, Culture, Architecture & Youth Affairs, Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Eco-tourism and Camping Villages project aims to foster long-term development benefits for the region.