Usman Buzdar’s message on World Tourism Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Punjab Chief Minister, Sardar Usman Buzdar, in his message on the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019, shared that a new tourism policy has been prepared besides giving the tourism sector a status of an industry. 

“Pakistan has great tourism potential and effective measures have been adopted to provide best facilities to tourists, along with improving tourist spots,” he stated. 

"Improving tourism is among the top priorities of the government and the Punjab government is working to facilitate tourists as one hundred and seventy-seven rest houses have already been opened for public in Punjab,” the Chief Minister remarked.

Imran Khan’s message on World Tourism Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his message on the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019, pointed out that the country was blessed with natural beauty and had enormous opportunities of tourism. 

“The tourism sector plays a pivotal role in socio-economic growth. It also provides an impetus for employment opportunities and promotion of entrepreneurial activities, globally,” he recognized. 

“The tourism experience provides synergies between communities having diverse cultural backgrounds. It also enables people to adapt themselves to the cutting-edge traveling facilities of modern days,” the Prime Minister remarked. 

“Pakistan has immense potential in tourism sector. It generates economic activities, brings in valuable foreign exchange and generates investors' interest in the tourism sector by attracting myriad foreign tourists. Influx of visitors is also correlated to law and order situation,” Imran Khan added. 

“The present government is giving due priority to the tourism sector. The government is devoted to introduce policies, infrastructure development, institutional empowerment and improvement in service delivery for attracting tourists,” he assured.

Dr Arif Alvi’s message on World Tourism Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The President of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, in his message on the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019, observed that the significance of world's tourism industry as a major source of employment and poverty alleviation is undeniable. 

“Tourism is a key to earning foreign exchange and an effective tool to bring diverse people close to one another, thereby promoting tolerance. Therefore, Pakistan celebrates the World Tourism Day as a nation proud of its glorious past and cultural heritage,” the President remarked. 

“The tourism sector plays a key role in enhancing socio-economic status of a country and uplifting the standard of life of local population,” he added. 

“The government is fully aware of the immense tourism potential in Pakistan and is aiming to transform it into a vital industry,” the President noted. 

“Pakistan is home to rich cultural heritage, most significantly Indus valley, world's ancient civilization. We are motivated to make Pakistan an attractive tourist destination by attracting both local and foreign tourists,” Dr Arif Alvi pledged.

PTDC celebrate World Tourism Day

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) played its due role by celebrating the World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 rather proactively on September 27. 

Besides hosting a seminar on the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all’ at the Postal College Auditorium in Islamabad, the PTDC also organized Rock Climbing Competition, a Cycling Rally & Walk, Tourism Gala at F-9 Park and a City Bus tour of SOS village children in the federal capital to reflect on the importance of tourism and raise awareness about sustainable tourism in the country. 

It’s gladdening indeed to find the PTDC furthering the initiatives of the government and engaging into such activities aimed at boosting the tourism industry in particular and the country’s economy in general. 

The PTDC, with the collaboration of the Islamabad Cycling Association (ICA), organized a cycling rally and awareness walk around the Fatima Jinnah Park, located in F-9 sector. 

More than 500 participants, wearing beautifully designed World Tourism Day T-shirts and carrying flags of Pakistan, took part in the event which was witnessed by a large number of area people and their families. 

The PTDC, in collaboration with the Pakistan Adventure Club (PAC), organized a rock climbing activity at Lake View Point in which more than 300 students from different schools of Islamabad took part. 

The participating students appreciated the organizers for holding such healthy touristic activities in the federal capital. 

The events also included a day trip of SOS Village’s students to the different tourist points of Islamabad, Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa, Faisal Mosque, Lake View Park and Dam-e-Koh, packaged with recreation and infotainment.

PTDC host World Tourism Day seminar

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services) 

The World Tourism Day (WTD) 2019 was celebrated in a befitting manner by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) on September 27. 

The PTDC organized a seminar on the theme ‘Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all’ at the Postal College Auditorium in Islamabad to mark the occasion as September 27 witnessed many other activities to highlight the significance of day. 

The seminar emphasized on the role of tourism in job creation, social inclusion and poverty alleviation all over the world as the experts shared their views. 

It was attended by a large number of professionals from tourism sector, tour operators, travel agents, stakeholders and officers of public sector organizations engaged in tourism promotion. 

Syed Intikhab Alam, Managing Director, PTDC in his opening remarks, spoke about the role of tourism in job creation as it held around 10% share of the total jobs in the global economy. 

He was of the opinion that the initiatives taken by the present government would help achieve the targets of creating more jobs for women and youth in particular. 

Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, in his speech, narrated the importance of sustainable tourism to meet with the challenges of global warming and climate change. 

He reckoned that tourism and environment had strong linkages and close coordination could raise supplement efforts of both in raising awareness about Eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. 

Sheikh Siddique, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division, regretted that Pakistan, blessed with so many ingredients of tourism, could not tap the potential yet. 

He, however, added that the policies and the current initiatives of the present government in this matter augured well for the revitalization of the tourism sector.