Saturday, May 17, 2008, Jamadi-ul-Awwal 10, 1429    

Comprehensive strategy to promote tourism: Pervez

Sharafat Kazmi

Islamabad —Federal Minister for Water and Power and Tourism, Raja Pervez Ashraf has directed the Paki-stan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) to formulate a comprehensive strategy for development and im-provement in the infrastructural facilities for the promotion of the tourism in the country.
He also asked the PTDC to constitute a task force to chalk out a program with novel ideas to attract tourists in the country and submit its recommendation within 10 days. He said this while chairing a high level meeting here Friday. Secretary, Ministry of Tourism, Managing Director, PTDC and senior officials of the Ministry and PTDC were present in the meeting.
Mr. Ashraf also directed to reconstitute the board of directors of the PTDC with major participation of private sector. He emphasized the need to devise a rationale mechanism and arrange guided tours to attract both domestic and foreign tourists in Pakistan.
He was of the view that the PTDC should develop tourist facilities in areas which have tourism potential. He also directed the PTDC to prepare a plan for designing of a tourist village to be linked with the international tourism club and organizations to keep a close liaison with international tourists as well as to construct a Budgeted Hotel in the Federal Capital to generate tourist activities both domestically and internation-ally. Tourists village should have mini Disney Land for children, provincial pavilions and other recreations facili-ties through public private partnership.
Earlier, the MD, PTDC gave a detailed briefing on the objectives and functions of the Pakistan Tourism De-velopment Corporation (PTDC).
He apprised the Minister that the vision of the PTDC was to promote and develop the tourist activities in the country and to make Pakistan as tourist friendly country to attract tourists both domestic and international. It was also informed that the arrangements are being finalized for a Day Tour with the diplomats and the tourist loving people. The Minister while appreciating the efforts of the PTDC urged for creating an enabling environment for Paki-stan Tourism industry to provide world class facilities.