ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi said today’s Pakistan was a land of opportunities but there was a need to exploit the vast tourism potential of the country.
Speaking at a tourism summit here, the president said the present government was following a comprehensive policy for promotion of tourism in the country which would not only exploit the unexplored tourism spots but also unleash economic opportunities in the country.
The president said tourism opportunities was a jewel for Pakistan and northern areas of the country were more attractive than the tourism resorts of the entire world. He said after restoration of peace in Pakistan there had been a significant increase in number of tourists to northern areas of Pakistan.
Dr.Alvi said there were vast opportunities of religious and traditional tourism in Pakistan and a lot of remittances could be gained from promotion of tourism in the country.
He said Pakistan had large opportunities of heritage tourism as well, adding the promotion of tourism would be a guarantee of progress and prosperity of northern parts of the country.
The president said Prime Minister Imran Khan himself was very fond of tourism and he was taking personal efforts for promotion of tourism in the country.
He said the government had taken a number of initiatives in that regard but stressed that a responsible development for promotion of tourism was must.
The president also stressed the need for more facilities for travelers and added that the government would provide facilities but the private sector would have to come forward to make it a success.
He said Pakistan had a great tourism potential but there was a dire need to exploit it and promote it at domestic and international levels.
He said holding of road shows abroad was of paramount importance to attract foreign tourists in that regard.
He said the initiation of open visa policy was a good step of the present government and it would have a very good effect on promoting tourism in Pakistan.
Earlier, CEOs and representatives of various groups said a vibrant tourism policy would unleash economic opportunities and usher in new era of tourism promotion in Pakistan.
The called for creating an enviable environment by offering incentives to the private sector in that regard and added that development of infrastructure, road net work, energy, water sanitation etc was basic requirements of tourism promotion.
They said though there were challenges but the country was on the roadmap of tourism.
State Minister for Interior Shaharyar Khan Afridi, Ali Muhammad Khan, Members of Parliaments, diplomates and a number of tour operator from various countries were present on the occasion.
Later, Mohammad Atif Khan, Provincial Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Tourism, Culture, Sports, Archaeology and Youth Affairs presented a shield to the president.
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