RAWALPINDI: The participants of a National Consultation Workshop on Tourism of Pakistan passed a unanimous resolution urging the federal government for establishing a National Tourism Authority in Pakistan having full power to adopt measures and taking decisions for promoting this sector.
The National Consultation Workshop on Tourism in Pakistan was organized by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation in collaboration with UNWTO at Flashman Hotel on Tuesday.
The Workshop was chaired by PTDC Managing Director , Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan and attended by representatives of UNWTO experts including Harry Hwang, George Drakopoulos while Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, Moderator and President of Sustainable Tourism Foundation Pakistan, Malik Akbar Ali, General Manager, Audit Section, PTDC, Asif Javed , Executive Director, College of Tourism and Hotel Management (COTHIM), Sajjad Hussain Shah, President PATO, Izhar Ahmed, Tourism Coordinator, RanaAfzal Kamran, Managing Director , American School & College, Tahir Imran, CEO, Panoramic Pakistan, Saifudding, Consultant/journalist, E-Travelers Club Travel Update, Muhammad Ali Imam, Chief Executive, Freelance Consultant, Mehmood Ahmad Malik, Managing Director Across Pakistan Tours, Karrar Haidri , Managing Director, Saltoro Summits, Hamid Subhani Vice Chairman of PHA, Amjad Ayub, CEO/ Ex-President PATO, Inner Asia, Islamabad.
At the very outset of his speech, PTDC Managing Director, Ghafoor Khan proposed the formation of National Tourism Authority which he said exist in every country of the world and ironically not in Pakistan. It is time to take bold step in this regard, Ghafoor Khan said. In this connection, I would hold negotiations with the Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi shortly and request him for converting PTDC into National Tourism Authority with its formation in the country. It would enable us to take decisions relating to promoting tourism in our country. Ghafoor Khan expressed his belief that he would be able to achieve his mission of forming Tourism Authority in Pakistan within next two weeks instead of months or years.
Similarly, managing director stressed upon the need of Tourism Policy on which he is working. However, he asked the participants of the workshop to present their recommendations to him in connection of Tourism Policy in the country.
While inviting the participants to present their suggestions which need to be worked and enforced asked them to submit their requests to the Prime Minister through correspondence urging the establishment of National Tourism Authority.
The participants including Harry Hwang, George Drakopoulos besides other unanimously seconded the proposal of PTDC Managing Director with regard to establishment of National Tourism Authority and expressed their willingness to extend full cooperation in this regard.
The UNWTO representative George Drakopoulos stressed that to promote tourism in Pakistan the role of private and public sector is vital. He felt there is serious lack of coordination among the public and private sectorstakeholders in tourism sector. While backing the proposal of Ghafoor Khan, George Drakopoulos the National Tourism Authority should be a joint platform of public and private sector besides having full representation of all the four provinces of Pakistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and AJK.
Other speakers while speaking suggested for marketing products of Pakistan in the world which is the one of the best way to see tourism grow in Pakistan.
