Tourism Vision Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has called for declaring Swat as load shedding-free and engaging of private sector for development of small hydel units at important tourist sites. The recommendations have been made in Vision Document for Tourism Sector of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prepared with the assistance of USAID and launched in high profile function in the presence of senior officials of the provincial government and USAID.
The document has proposed improvement in the quality of tourism infrastructure and construction of access roads to tourist towns and sites, especially road from Mingora to Kalam. Transportation facilities to tourist towns should be improved by facilitating large transport companies to start their services.
Tourism Vision of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has called for declaring tourism sector as top priority for achievement of the objectives set in this regard include initiating efforts for the strengthening co-ordination with security forces to improvement situation in the tourist areas.
The document said that the government should not act as a business manager; but only act as facilitator and regulator. Commercial ventures operating in government sector should be given to private sector for efficient management. Projects based on public-private partnership (PPP) should be promoted, for which a PPP framework should first be developed.
It said that with the devolution of tourism to provinces, Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) needs to be strengthened and the restructured TCKP should have expertise available in the functions of marketing, tourist facilitation, research, regulations, archaeology, culture, IT and investor facilitation.
For dealing with tourism issues at federal level, it has been recommended to restructure Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) into Pakistan Tourism Development Board; with a focused role of marketing Pakistan tourism. Other important institutions/regulatory recommendations are facilitation for issuance of Pakistan visa and implementing environment laws. It is recommended to improve and strengthen the implementation of standards and certifications for the hotels, restaurants and other service providers. The vision document also stressed need for development of new tourist sites on the model of public-private partnership and some tourist attractions include Malam Jabba Ski Resort and Khyber Steam Safari, Cultural Tourism Centres should be established in big cities like Peshawar. Development of new hill stations at places like Cherat and Suana and facilities for ecotourism and adventure tourism should be undertaken on priority.
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