New model for tourism proposed

PCJCCI President Zarak Khan callS for promoting Chinese model of 'Rural Tourism' in the country

LAHORE: Pakistan-China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) President Zarak Khan called for promoting Chinese model of 'Rural Tourism' in the country on Sunday.

He told the media that Pakistan was known as a tourist’s paradise and a special interest destination for tourists around the world. “Our country’s main attractions include adventure tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan as well as cultural and archaeological tourism, but there is a need to highlight rural tourism, which would definitely prove to be a high score for our economy.”

Villages of northern areas of Pakistan are rich in culture and tourism resources, which could be upgraded by developing better accommodation, food, shopping markets and infrastructure facilities, he added.

He maintained that he also floated the proposal regarding promotion of rural tourism in the PCJCCI think-tank meeting, which also observed that income gap between farmers and urban workers had become a major problem in the country.

“The meeting also suggested that the government should develop a long-term strategy to promote rural tourism in order to maintain living standards in rural areas of Pakistan.”

The meeting was also briefed about rural tourism being practiced in various agricultural countries of the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2019.