Tourism investment consultant · Islamabad

Arif
Hussain.

Vice Chairman, PATOCo-founder, ExploriaFounder & CEO, Elham Asia

For over 12 years, I’ve helped investors and travel businesses identify, evaluate, and grow opportunities across Pakistan, Central Asia, and Southeast Asia. From developing tourism experiences and exploring new investment opportunities to building connections at international tourism exhibitions across 25 countries, I bring regional insight and a global perspective to every journey.

Start a conversation See my ventures

2026–28Elected Vice Chairman,
Pakistan Association of Tour Operators

Leadership & ventures

12years in tourism investment consultancy

25⁺international travel shows attended

25countries on the travel-show circuit

1,000⁺travellers hosted each year as a tour operator

About

Every great destination starts as a sound investment.

Arif Hussain is a tourism investment consultant based in Islamabad with twelve years of experience in the travel industry. He works on every side of the table: with the operators who run travel on the ground, the associations that shape policy, and the partners, buyers and investors he meets at travel shows around the world.

In September 2026 he was elected Vice Chairman of the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) for the 2026–28 term. He co-founded Exploria, a tour and trekking company with offices in Islamabad and Hunza, and in 2020 founded Elham Asia, which now runs 62 trips from the Karakoram to Central Asia, Türkiye and Sri Lanka.

Current roles: Vice Chairman, PATOCo-founder, Exploria · Founder & CEO, Elham Asia
Education: BBAInstitute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi
Focus: Tourism investmentAdvisory, feasibility, partnerships and market entry
Based in: Islamabad, PakistanSeasonal operations in Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu

Leadership & ventures

Three roles. One industry.

Each role sees tourism from a different side: the industry body that speaks for operators, the company on the trail, and the venture built from the first vehicle up.

Vice Chairman2026–28 term

Pakistan Association of Tour Operators

Elected in September 2026 alongside Chairman Najeeb Khan, in polling held across Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Sustainable growth for Pakistan's tour operators
Training and capacity building for adventure operators to international standards
Advocacy for a more tourist-friendly visa regime

pato.org.pk ↗

Co-founderIslamabad · Hunza

Exploria: Experience Pakistan

Tours, treks and cultural journeys across Pakistan, from the Mughal heritage of Lahore and the ancient sites of Sindh to K2 Base Camp and the Shandur Polo Festival.

Rated 4.9 from 63 reviews on its Hunza & Skardu tour (TourRadar)
TourRadar Silver 2024 recognition
Treks to four 8,000 m base camps and cycling tours on the Karakoram Highway

exploria.pk ↗

Founder & CEOSince 2020

Elham Asia

Started in 2020 with one Land Cruiser and one guide. Today it is a licensed operator running guided tours, treks and expeditions.

1,000+ travellers a year across 62 trips
Pakistan, Central Asia, Türkiye, the Caucasus, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia
Registered with DTS; member of PATO, BAATO, the Alpine Club of Pakistan and ICCI

elhamasia.com ↗

Where the work happens

From the Karakoram to Ha Long Bay.

Arif Hussain runs 62 trips across Pakistan, Central Asia, Türkiye, the Caucasus, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia. His work spans the whole region, from Himalayan valleys to Silk Road cities and island coastlines.

Rakaposhi, 7,788 mHunza–Nagar, Pakistan

Cappadocia at sunriseCentral Anatolia, Türkiye

Pokhara and the AnnapurnasGandaki, Nepal

Registan SquareSamarkand, Uzbekistan

Sigiriya Rock FortressCentral Province, Sri Lanka

Attabad LakeGojal, Pakistan

Ha Long BayQuảng Ninh, Vietnam

On the road

25+ shows.
25 countries.

Twelve years of show floors, meeting the buyers, partners and investors who move global travel, and putting Asia's destinations in front of them.

Meet at the next show

ShowCityCountry

ITB BerlinBerlinDE

World Travel MarketLondonUK

Adventure Travel ShowLondonUK

FITURMadridES

Arabian Travel MarketDubaiAE

Bangladesh Travel & Tourism Fair 2025DhakaBD

Beijing International Tourism ExpoBeijingCN

Pakistan Travel MartPakistanPK

Selected shows on the Elham Asia circuit. Twenty-five countries in all.

Gallery

On the show floor and at the table.

Pavilions, B2B meetings, forums and dinners with the partners who bring travellers to Pakistan. Select any photo to view it full size.

Arif Hussain at the entrance of the 13th Bangladesh Travel & Tourism Fair, BTTF 2025 — Dhaka · 30 Oct – 1 Nov 202513th Bangladesh Travel & Tourism Fair (BTTF 2025)At Bangladesh's largest international tourism expo, held at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center.

Arif Hussain on stage at the Pakistan–Russia Trade & Investment Forum — 1 October 2024Pakistan–Russia Trade & Investment ForumOn the forum stage, presenting tourism as one of Pakistan's trade and investment opportunities.

Pakistan delegation standing at the national pavilion under the banner A Land of Majestic Peaks — **The Pakistan delegation**With fellow exhibitors at the national pavilion, "A Land of Majestic Peaks".

Arif Hussain giving a media interview at the Pakistan pavilion — **Media interview**Speaking to the press about travel to Pakistan and the wider region.

Arif Hussain at a B2B table with an Exploria name card — **B2B session for Exploria**Ready for back-to-back meetings with international buyers.

Arif Hussain with the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Imran Haider, and diplomats at the Pakistan stand — **Welcoming visiting officials**With the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Bangladesh, H.E. Mr. Imran Haider, and other diplomats from the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka.

Arif Hussain exchanging business cards with visitors at the Pakistan stand — **New partners, new routes**Exchanging cards with trade visitors at the Pakistan stand.

Arif Hussain presenting to a table of buyers — **Pitching new itineraries**Presenting itineraries to a table of tour buyers.

Arif Hussain in a B2B meeting with international tour operators — **Buyer meetings**One-to-one talks with international tour operators.

A long dinner table with international guests — **Lunch with our tour group from Barcelona**Sharing a meal with travellers visiting from Barcelona, Spain.

Tourism industry leaders in a meeting — **Industry round-table**Meeting fellow tour operators and stakeholders.

Arif Hussain receiving Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan, Chairman of the Board of Investment and Minister for Privatisation, at the Pak-Russia Trade & Investment Forum in Moscow — **Receiving Mr. Abdul Aleem Khan in Moscow**Welcoming the Chairman of the Board of Investment and Minister for Privatisation at the Pak-Russia Trade & Investment Forum, Moscow, Russia.

Delegates shaking hands at an event — **Greeting delegates**Welcoming guests at a tourism and trade event.

Arif Hussain in conversation with industry peers — **Conversations that become partnerships**Catching up with industry peers after the sessions.

Expertise

How I can help.

Advice grounded in running real tours, sitting on an industry body, and twelve years of conversations with investors.

Investment advisory

Where tourism capital earns its keep across Pakistan, Central Asia and the wider region, and where it doesn't.

Feasibility & market studies

Demand, seasonality, competition and returns, tested before money is committed.

Partnerships & market entry

Introductions to operators, associations and government bodies across Asia's tourism sector.

Trade-show representation

Taking destinations and ventures to the international shows where deals begin.

Contact

Considering an investment in travel? Let's talk.

Whether you are considering a hotel, a tour company or a partnership anywhere in Asia, start with a short message. Replies come from Islamabad, 9 am–11 pm PKT.

Message on WhatsApp

Emailarifbarjungle2023@gmail.com

Phone / WhatsApp+92 310 5344471

OfficeOffice 227, Rohtas Road, G-9/1, Islamabad

Websiteselhamasia.com exploria.pk

ArifHussain.