PHOTO: INSTAGRAM
The new tourism complex will have an Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management (ITHM), TDCP offices, tourist information centre, offices for travel agencies and tour operators, a hotel, restaurant and shops for handicrafts or souvenirs.
Project proposal documents showed the corporation has to pay millions of rupees, on an annual basis, on account of the ITHM Lahore Campus and TDCP office rental. Also, from time to time, it has to face pressure to agree to an increase in rent.
The ITHM and TDCP offices had to transfer to several buildings over the years and this affected the institutions’ reputation and caused inconvenience for students, the documents indicate.
The corporation has around 4.5 kanals of empty land in Muhammad Ali Johar Town and that too at a prime location. It is surrounded by renowned educational institutions and a tourism complex is planned on the premises. This would allow maximum tourism-allied facilities under one roof.
Documents further highlight the ITHM’s Lahore campus and its branches/franchises in different cities are offering dozens of professional courses. It is one of the approved institutes that offers the ‘City & Guilds – UK’ course in Pakistan.
In addition, the institute is offering a variety of vocational and skill training programmes offered by the Punjab Skills Development Fund (PSDF). National Vocational and Technical Training Commission (NAVTTC) is an approved training service provider. However, it lacks the classrooms to run full courses at the current campus.
Documents also indicated that the corporation proposed construction of the tourism complex. Government resources and state will be best utilised to ensure monetary returns.
The project will be conceived in a manner whereby the private sector will be responsible for the build-operate-transfer (BOT) or other permissible modality. The government will offer land to the successful bidder to construct the projects.
A private party will recover its investment over the concession period by operating the restaurant and hotel as well as taking rent from shops or offices on a commercial basis. At the end of the concession period, the entire system would be reverted to the corporation.
The proposed plan shows the new multi-storey tourism complex will have rooftop restaurant, a three-floor hotel and one floor for each ITHM Campus and TDCP offices. It will also have parking space in the basement.
A senior TDCP said the corporation submitted its proposal to the provincial government. Independent consultants will be hired to prepare the feasibility of the project and to finalise the mode of transactions once the project is approved.
TDCP founded the Academy of Tourism in 1988 and it was upgraded to the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management in 1996. The major objective is to introduce new professionals from the field into the industry.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 28th, 2017.
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