Turkey to establish Centre of Excellence in tourism

Ministers explored further opportunities for collaboration in education and technical training

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to establish a Centre of Excellence in Tourism a Hospitality Management in Islamabad, a statement said on Wednesday.

The project was given final shape during a meeting between Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training and National Heritage Shafqat Mahmood and Turkish Culture and Tourism Deputy Minister Dr Serdar Çam in Ankara today.

During their meeting, both Minister Shafqat Mahmood and Minister Serdar Çam also explored further opportunities for collaboration in education, technical training, culture and tourism sector. Mahmood briefed the Turkish dignitary about the potential of the tourism sector of Pakistan. He said that domestic tourism in Pakistan reached its peak during the current year but stressed on the need for more efforts to attract more foreign tourists.

Earlier, Pakistan delegation led by Mehmood visited Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) headquarters and were briefed by its Vice President Prof Dr Birol Çetin about the organisation’s global as well as Pakistan operations.

Tall claims on promoting tourism

He informed that since 2010 when TIKA office was established in Pakistan, TIKA has undertaken about 148 projects in Pakistan in various sectors focussing on education, health, skills development, employment generation and women empowerment. Turkish side showed keen desire to do more projects in the area of technical education and vocational training.

Mahmood said that Pakistan is establishing National Skills University in Islamabad and the proposed Centre of Excellence in Hospitality and Tourism Management will part of it as its campus. He remarked that Pakistan Government is revising national education curriculum in order to make it relevant to market needs. This will include technical education and vocational training as a priority area, he added.

Pakistan delegation also called on Ibrahim Kalin, senior adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Mahmood conveyed his gratitude to the people and leadership of Turkey for standing by Pakistan on issues of its core national interest.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 10^th, 2019.