Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has instructed the relevant quarters to come up with a comprehensive plan for promoting tourism as an industry in the province, adding that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been gifted with diverse cultural heritage, enormous beauty and stunning landscapes, which needed to be utilized effectively by developing tourist friendly infrastructure, extending facilities and attracting local and foreign investment.
“The development of tourism sector on modern lines would not only generate employment opportunities for locals but would ultimately contribute to the provincial economy”, he remarked. He was presiding over a meeting of the tourism department, held here at Chief Minister’s House the other day. Advisor to Chief Minister for tourism Zahid Chan Zeb, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Amjad Ali Khan and other relevant officials attended the meeting. The participants were briefed about the administrative affairs of the department, development projects, future planning and integrated tourism Zones being established in Malakand and Hazara divisions.
The chief minister on this occasion, directed the quarters concerned to devise a comprehensive plan for promoting ecotourism in the province, and said that we need to have more concerted and result-oriented approaches not only towards preserving the natural beauty of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but for promoting responsible tourism as well. He also directed them to set up alternate bazars in the congested tourist spots of the province and to ensure car parking facility as a compulsory component of planning for new tourist sites.
Similarly, the chief minister has directed to devise a plan for effective and judicious use of properties owned by the tourism department and said that all such properties can be utilized not only for facilitating tourists but contributing to the provincial income.
