RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan has said that the present democratic government is committed to facilitate tourists as the promotion of tourism industry would not only help to revive the economy but also remove any misperceptions about Pakistan.
While addressing the World Tourism Day 2016 Seminar and Photo Exhibition organized PTDC in Rawalpindi on Tuesday, he said that we working hard to improve infrastructure and facilities which will definitely increase tourist flow to the country.
The managing director PTDC said that World Tourism Day is celebrated every year on September 27 under the theme declared by UNWTO. The theme “Tourism for All – Promoting Universal Accessibility” is most appropriate theme in present scenario for the very reason that Pakistan and China are in progress to develop China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
There are no two views on the importance of sustainable development of tourism industry as major source of foreign exchange earner, a tool of job creation and poverty alleviation and above all creating harmony among people from different parts of the country. It ability to sustain even the poorest in the economic ladder have been proven many times. The corridor can act as a regional institution to boost bilateral relations. The CPEC is the name of regional economic integration beyond the geographical route; it represents the domestic institutional arrangements and macro-economic coordination between the two countries in the transnational flow of economic factors such as tourism, technology, information and labour. Economic corridor is not only a road to economic prosperity of Pakistan; it can be termed as future of the world. It is estimated that about three billion people from China, South Asia and Central Asia, would be benefited from the economic corridor, creating one of the largest accessibility solution of the world.
The improved law and order situation in country has certainly paved the way for positive changes to come, including a healthy influx of international visitors to Pakistan. The government is also working on reviving PTDC as National Tourism Organization. New Role PTDC shall include interprovincial coordination in tourism marketing on national international level, tourism planning and policy making, tourism market research etc. beside its normal functions. With these efforts, I give you my word that Pakistan will appear as the brightest star of tourism in the world.
Guest Speakers Col (retd) Manzoor Hussain, President Alpine Club of Pakistan, Ms. Jehan Ara Mueen, Secretary Adventure Foundation Pakistan, Irfan ullah Baig, President Pakistan Association of Tour Operators, Mr. Hamid Subhani, Director Operations, Islamabad Hotel, Mr. Aleem Chaudhry, Rep. of TAAP and Mr. Agha Iqrar Haroon, Honorary President, The Region Initiative (TRI) shared their views and apprised the overall challenges in promotion and development of tourism industry in the country. Chaudhry Azizuddin Tahir, General Manager (Motels), Ali Akbar Malik, General Manager (Audit) and Mr. Mukhtar Ali, Manager (Publicity) also expressed their views on tourism potential in Pakistan.
The Photo Exhibition was inaugurated by Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor which was visited by a large number of students of universities, colleges and schools and general public. The exhibition will remain open till September 28’s evening.
