RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) will organise a three-day international conference on tourism from January 29 in Islamabad under the auspices of World Tourism Organization which would be attended by around 150 countries.
While addressing a media briefing on Wednesday, 20 December, Managing Director PTDC, Chaudhary Abdul Ghafoor said the conference would be a major achievement which would help promote soft image of Pakistan in the world. He said secretary general of the WTO would also visit Pakistan next year.
He stated that we are keen to promote tourism and strengthen the position of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation in the country, and this Corporation will definitely stand on its feet and its performance will be a role model.
Tourism activities in the country are gaining momentum and foreign tourists arrivals are also gradually increasing. Our effort is that the country’s image emerges as a peaceful and tourist friendly country around the world. Under the same aim, a Conference of World Tourism Organization is being organizing in Islamabad in January 2018, where delegates of members of Asia and Pacific regions will participate. Holding this conference will help us to improve the impression of Pakistan abroad.
He added that several steps are being taken for the development of tourism, including special tourist satellite TV channel, city tour bus services, improving the quality of PTDC services, tourism publications and infrastructure development as well as facilitating investment in this sector. Our primary priority is to provide high-quality residential facilities to pilgrims at the holy places of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhs in Pakistan.
Religious tourism will never end. We will keep the domestic tourism on top priority, at the second stage overseas Pakistanis and then on the other hand, we will offer special packages to the foreign tourists coming to Pakistan. There is a need to soften visa policy for foreign tourists. He add that I have divided tourism sector into different sectors like Religious, Eco, Agri, Sports, Culture and Medical Tourism so that they can easily promoted separately. They requested the media to promote tourism by highlighting tourist and cultural places to the world so that the number of tourists turns towards Pakistan.
In response to a question, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan said that the National Tourism Strategy Workshop was organized in which honorable figures related to the field participated and presented their recommendations. Soon, the comprehensive strategy will be adopted on the national level.
In response to a question on the financial situation of the Corporation, he expressed the hope that the government will soon release funds to improve the situation of the corporation, for which efforts are underway.
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