Punjab eyes billions from tourism sector

Booking of 176 rest houses will be available online

LAHORE:

In order to benefit from the multi-billion dollar potential of tourism, Punjab government has announced a road infrastructure development plan for six tourist spots under its Tourism for Economic Growth Project (TEGP).

The government, in collaboration with the World Bank (WB), will also make booking of 176 rest houses possible through online facility as part of efforts to promote and adopt a digital tourist mechanism.

The scenic beauty of Punjab has a great attraction for both domestic and international tourists, known greenery, mighty rivers, beautiful lakes and variety of amazing wild life.

Geographically, Punjab has diversity of historical, archaeological heritage, spiritual and cultural sites, providing tourists rich classical opportunities to visit Mughal and British era buildings, monuments and religious places, which were equally important to various communities, including those from Sikhism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) in a research report had revealed that Pakistan’s more than $20 billion tourism industry was booming rapidly with a trend forecast that the sector could further grow to around $40 billion during the next decade.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar laid the foundation stone of the road project.

In the first phase of the plan, the roads’ infrastructure will be developed with a cost of Rs830 million and improving and revamping of the 35 kilometre long roads would be completed, the CM said.

Punjab Minister for Tourism Rai Taimoor Khan told APP that the government was taking result oriented and exemplary initiatives in promoting digital tourism to benefit from the country’s tourism potential both at national and international levels.

The Punjab government in the budget for 2019-20 had earmarked an amount of Rs1.19 billion to be spent on 18 new schemes, while during 2020-21 a budget of Rs400 million has been set aside for the tourism sector’s new and existing projects.

Recently, the British Backpackers Society (BBS) in its report termed Pakistan as one of the friendliest countries while ranking it the top destination for tourism ‘with stunning mountains and plain scenery’. This raking was calculated by a vote count through polls of its members, including adventure travel experts from across the globe.

In a study carried out by the World Bank, 23 major tourist sites across the province were identified as ones to be outsourced by engaging male and female youth in the sector by giving them representation and taking them on board in most economic and policy making activities.

Adviser to Punjab CM for Tourism Asif Mehmood claimed that no stone would be left unturned to develop Punjab as a tourist destination hub. “A comprehensive strategy for tourism has been devised to fulfill the government’s objectives.”

A document of the Tourism Development Corporation Punjab (TDCP) revealed that besides Soan Valley, Salt Range, urban and recreational tourism, the Punjab agricultural fields’ landscape beauty provides rich tourist attractions in Lahore, Rawalpindi, Narowal, Multan and Bahawalpur regions.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Economic Report (PER) pointed out that the current Sikh tourism potential in the province was around $34 million with 85,000 jobs. Through Buddhist tourism, around $17 million could be generated with around 35,000 jobs, it stated.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, December 28^th, 2020.