Spirit of Swat 2011: Wooing back tourists
A tourism promotion project is being launched throughout Pakistan.
SWAT:
As part of the government’s bid to woo tourists back to the pictureque valley of Swat, a tourism promotion project is being launched throughout Pakistan.
The ‘Spirit of Swat 2011’ will be organised by the provincial government in collaboration with local administration while the army will help to coordinate all the activities, said Brig Saqib Rashid while briefing mediapersons on the salient features of the project here on Thursday.
“After approval from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, ‘Spirit of Swat 2011’ will be initiated in two phases, Swat to Pakistan and vice versa,” said Brigadier Saqib Rashid here on Thursday.
“The aim of the project is to show that peace has been restored in Swat,” he said.
The officer said in the first phase, exhibitions will be held at Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpinid, Islamabad and Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) in March and April to shocase crafts, fruits and hotel industry of the scenic valley.
In the second phase seminars and conferences will be held to hightlight the potential of tourism in the scenic valley, arrange skiing gala, car rallies, musical shows, speech competitions, photo exhibitions, golf and other sports competitions. Display of local craft and handicraft will also be held at Swat from June to August, he said.
“Work on Kalam road will soon be started and will be ready before the arrival of tourism season,” he added.
“The uncertainty of people regarding the valley will be purged. Attracting tourists, expediting the process of reconstruction and development are basic objectives of the programme.”
Local people welcome the Spirit of Swat 2011 project but demanded quick reconstruction and restoration of the infrastructure, particularly the road to Kalam which connects the valley to Madyan, Bahrain, Mankyal and other tourist resorts with the rest of the country.
“The venture is a positive step, but cannot be a success until roads and bridges are constructed in time. All the scenic tourist resorts are presently cut off from the rest of the country since floods washed away the complete infrastructure.” said, Shahid a local.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2011.
As part of the government’s bid to woo tourists back to the pictureque valley of Swat, a tourism promotion project is being launched throughout Pakistan.
The ‘Spirit of Swat 2011’ will be organised by the provincial government in collaboration with local administration while the army will help to coordinate all the activities, said Brig Saqib Rashid while briefing mediapersons on the salient features of the project here on Thursday.
“After approval from the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, ‘Spirit of Swat 2011’ will be initiated in two phases, Swat to Pakistan and vice versa,” said Brigadier Saqib Rashid here on Thursday.
“The aim of the project is to show that peace has been restored in Swat,” he said.
The officer said in the first phase, exhibitions will be held at Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Rawalpinid, Islamabad and Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) in March and April to shocase crafts, fruits and hotel industry of the scenic valley.
In the second phase seminars and conferences will be held to hightlight the potential of tourism in the scenic valley, arrange skiing gala, car rallies, musical shows, speech competitions, photo exhibitions, golf and other sports competitions. Display of local craft and handicraft will also be held at Swat from June to August, he said.
“Work on Kalam road will soon be started and will be ready before the arrival of tourism season,” he added.
“The uncertainty of people regarding the valley will be purged. Attracting tourists, expediting the process of reconstruction and development are basic objectives of the programme.”
Local people welcome the Spirit of Swat 2011 project but demanded quick reconstruction and restoration of the infrastructure, particularly the road to Kalam which connects the valley to Madyan, Bahrain, Mankyal and other tourist resorts with the rest of the country.
“The venture is a positive step, but cannot be a success until roads and bridges are constructed in time. All the scenic tourist resorts are presently cut off from the rest of the country since floods washed away the complete infrastructure.” said, Shahid a local.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 19th, 2011.