Khanpur Sports Gala: Ban on flying activities affects turnout at festival
Many a visitor turned away due to ban on flying activities such as paragliding, hang gliding and hot air ballooning.
HARIPUR:
A ban on flying activities resulted in a lukewarm response to the much-trumpeted Khanpur Water Sports Festival, which concluded here on Sunday.
Many a visitor turned away due to the ban on flying activities such as paragliding, hang gliding and hot air ballooning.
Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) General Manager Muhammad Ali Shah said that about half of the people decided not to come for the festival after they announced the ban on flying activities.
A cut in funds for the festival did not help. “Last year, the corporation earmarked Rs8.5 million for the festival but this time, they whittled it down to only Rs6.5 million,” said a TCKP official, Rameez Ali.
The stall owners, too, were not happy with the turnout. According to a handicraft stall owner, Murad, last year he made good business but this time, he was not so lucky.
The number of foreigners this year, he said, was why he profits turned out lower than last year.
However, cultural music and dance performances kept the visitors who came entertained.
There were also a number of attractions for children including horse dance, camel ride, puppet show and juggler’s performance.
Ali said they failed to introduce more family activities as they had planned, but the concerts and cultural activities got an “overwhelming response” from the visitors. He estimated the turnover to be around 40,000 to 50,000 people, which is more than last year.
At the closing ceremony, Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah and TCKP Secretary Jamalud Din gave away prize to the performers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2012.
A ban on flying activities resulted in a lukewarm response to the much-trumpeted Khanpur Water Sports Festival, which concluded here on Sunday.
Many a visitor turned away due to the ban on flying activities such as paragliding, hang gliding and hot air ballooning.
Tourism Corporation of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) General Manager Muhammad Ali Shah said that about half of the people decided not to come for the festival after they announced the ban on flying activities.
A cut in funds for the festival did not help. “Last year, the corporation earmarked Rs8.5 million for the festival but this time, they whittled it down to only Rs6.5 million,” said a TCKP official, Rameez Ali.
The stall owners, too, were not happy with the turnout. According to a handicraft stall owner, Murad, last year he made good business but this time, he was not so lucky.
The number of foreigners this year, he said, was why he profits turned out lower than last year.
However, cultural music and dance performances kept the visitors who came entertained.
There were also a number of attractions for children including horse dance, camel ride, puppet show and juggler’s performance.
Ali said they failed to introduce more family activities as they had planned, but the concerts and cultural activities got an “overwhelming response” from the visitors. He estimated the turnover to be around 40,000 to 50,000 people, which is more than last year.
At the closing ceremony, Provincial Minister for Sports Syed Aqil Shah and TCKP Secretary Jamalud Din gave away prize to the performers.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 15th, 2012.