PTDC asked to put in more efforts to promote tourism

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation would make extra efforts to put tourism industry back in business after being ruined for almost a decade.

The corporation has been asked to double its efforts to promote tourism industry as the existing policies for tourism, which were framed back in 1992 are not yielding the desired results.

Managing Director PTDC Mir Shahjahan Khetran said this at a reception which he hosted for PTDC Employees, APP learnt this on Saturday.

The MD stressed need for collective efforts to promote tourism and devise strategies to address the problems being faced by the tourism sector within the existing socio-political environment.

He sought their commitment and support in improving the PTDC, while meeting these objectives.

Khetran highlighted that PTDC is offering discount during the holy month of Ramadan at PTDC Motels.

With the prime objective of promotion of tourism in remote and under-developed areas, PTDC launched its Motels Subsidiary (PTDC Motels) in 1976.

From a modest beginning limit of 10 units, PTDC Motels have now expanded its boarding, lodging and restaurant facilities to 43 remote tourist destinations spread across the country.

With over 600 rooms, it has now become the largest chain of motels & restaurants in Pakistan. In line with Government's tourism development strategy, PTDC motels were constructed to meet two primary objectives; to open up new areas for tourism and set the pace for the private sector to follow, secondly, to initiate socio-economic development of the area.

PTDC has been meeting with the objectives and presents an accessible and affordable facility at the most picturesque sites nature has to offer.

PTDC Motels are set up in areas where private sector is shy to invest or where infrastructure facilities are not yet developed.

Playing a role of pioneer and trend setter, PTDC Motels have always opened up new and remote places for tourism thus bringing infrastructure (road, water, electricity, telephone etc) facilities and employment opportunities at the door-step of the local communities.

PTDC's is also operating 18 Tourist Information Centres all over Pakistan for the last 30 years and they are providing information, travel guide, brochures, maps, pamphlets etc. to the tourists, which help them to plan their holiday.

These centres also book tours, transport and hotels other than PTDC.

Since 1993, PTDC is offering special discounted tour packages, which are availed by thousands of tourists every year, especially the Kaghan valley tours is more famous among them.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011