Tourism in Swat: ‘Involve private sector to revive industry’

Revival of tourism in Swat needs govt attention.

ISLAMABAD: Ministry of Tourism and Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) have been urged to involve the private sector in their efforts to revive tourism industry in Swat.

“The revival of tourism in Swat Valley needs government’s attention,” Muhammad Usman Advocate, Chairman National Assembly Standing Committee on Tourism said during a meeting on Saturday. Secretary Tourism Shahid Rashid said Pakistan Austria Institute of Tourism & Hotel and Tourism Management (PAITHOM) and PTDC Motel at Kalam were under the control of security forces. He added that a number of requests had been sent to the ministries of defence and interior to get them vacated, without much result. Siddique, an economic analyst, said if PAITHOM training program continues, the resulting boom in the hotel industry will create job opportunities for the local youth.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2011.