Staff Reporter
Adviser to Chief Minister Punjab on Tourism, Asif Mahmood has vowed that Tourism Department will take all necessary steps to make tourism more tourist-friendly.
These views were expressed by him while chairing a review meeting on the performance of the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP), here on Wednesday.
The meeting was also attended by Secretary Tourism and Archaeology Ehsan Bhutta, Additional Secretary Kalsoom Saqib, Managing Director TDCP Tanveer Jabbar, GM Finance Zahid Hussain and GM Admin Touqeer Qazmi.
The Adviser was briefed about the ongoing scenario of the pandemic on how it was affecting the services of the department.
While expressing his concerns on implications of Covid-19 on the tourism sector, Asif Mehmood stressed upon finding alternative sources of income to achieve annual targets.
The destination of tourist-friendly tourism is directly linked with the availability of proper sources of income.
We have to either manage the things within available resources or to look other sources to meet the challenges”, observed the Adviser.
He sought two months performance report of TDCP and directed that both short term and long term comprehensive planning be devised for fruitful results. “It is high time to prove your best abilities”, said Mehmood.
Secretary Tourism and Archaeology Ehsan Bhutta briefed on the occasion about how to make Punjab a tourist-friendly place.
“Despite hurdles in the wake of Covid-19 archaeological sites were being restored to attract foreign and local tourists”, he said.
He told the Adviser that signboards in large numbers are being displayed on roads towards historical sites.
“A number of archaeological sites including Rohtas Forte, Hiran Minar, Jehangir’s tomb, Chuburji were now illuminated to promote night tourism “, said Mr. Bhutta.
Managing Director TDCP Tanveer Jabbar apprised the meeting about completed and ongoing development schemes.
