ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday directed the provinces to devise guidelines for managing tourism to contain the Resurgence of Covid-19 outbreak.

The NCOC meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar discussed opening up of tourism sector with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety guidelines for containment of disease.

The forum highlighted that violations of SOPs have been observed at almost all tourist destinations and emphasized that if tourism not managed well, it might create a pandemic outbreak. KB, GP and AJK administrations were requested to make all out efforts to enforce SOPs on visiting tourists including use of facemask (No Mask No Tourism) and density control.

Moreover, other provinces must take measures to control the flow of tourists to the tourist destinations. For next three weeks, special efforts to ramp up testing and contact tracing of tourists through establishing of special sentinel sites at tourist spots & airports will be ensured.

Detailed SOPs on tourism have already been issued, however, Ministry of Health will formulate and issue special guidelines and action plan for tourist management.