Tourism symposium spotlights potential
The two-day Pakistan Travel and Tourism Symposium jointly organised by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and World Bank Pakistan has started here on Monday at the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA).
The symposium’s theme was "Building the National Economy through Tourism". More than 20 foreign delegates and 400 national and international tourism professionals, industry experts and decision-makers have participated and shared their ideas for development of a future road map for the sustainable growth of tourism industry of Pakistan. A tourism expo was also organised to showcase Pakistan's rich tourism potential and create G2G, B2B and G2B linkages among the industry stakeholders.
The symposium was designed to explore and enhance critical facets of the tourism sector, with a focus on green investments, improving connectivity, responsible tourism and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. It aims to foster a transformative dialogue among stakeholders to address pivotal challenges, forge synergies, and capitalise on opportunities in the evolving tourism landscape.
The opening ceremony of the symposium was attended by the Chairman Prime Minister's Youth Programme Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan as the chief guest, Minister for Culture, Tourism, Antiquities & Archives Sindh Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah and Additional Secretary Cabinet Division Hammad Shamimi.
Addressing the participants, Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan said “Pakistan, a land of rich history, diverse culture, and breathtaking natural beauty, offered countless opportunities for travelers, explorers, and adventure-seekers alike. From the majestic Karakoram Mountains to the ancient Indus Valley Civilization, our country is a treasure trove of experiences waiting to be discovered. He added that incumbent government was committed to develop tourism sector across the country and also working on different projects in all the provinces to ensure the sustainable and eco-friendly growth of this sector for the socio-economic development and employment generation for the people of Pakistan.
"All these efforts will also greatly help in projecting the soft image of Pakistan at the global level as a tourist friendly country" he hoped. He emphasised that there was great potential to engage the youth in the tourism and hospitality sector work force.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 11th, 2024.