LAHORE - Like other parts of the globe, World Tourism Day will be observed across the country including Lahore on Tuesday (today) for raising awareness about the importance of tourism and its impact on society in various fields.
WTD theme this year is ‘Tourism for All’. Seminars and sight-seeing events will be arranged in cities of historical significance to mark the day.
In Lahore, Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab will arranged a seminar at Alhamra to mark the day. Minister Tourism Rana Mashood will be the chief guest. Prior to the event, TDCP will arrange sightseeing of Lahore on double decker bus for special people.
Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said in his message on World Tourism Day that promotion of tourist activities can help in strengthening of national economy and putting the country on the road to progress and development. He said that tourism promotes soft image of a country at international level while national economy can also be strengthened through development of this sector.
He said that purpose of celebrating World Tourism Day is promotion of tourism, exploration of new tourist spots and conservation of archeological sites besides safety of tourists and provision of necessary facilities at tourist sites. The chief minister said that World Tourism Day is also celebrated for the purpose of socio-economic development and bringing people closer.
He said that Pakistan provides an opportunity to tourists to see natural sights and ancient civilizations. He said that K2, Nanga Parbat, Chitral, Sirkardo, Gilgit, Hunza, Swat, Hazara, Murree, and mountain ranges of Kashmir attract tourists from all over the world. He said that tourist sites of Pakistan comprise deserts, fertile land and beautiful mountain ranges and this country is also famous for archeological sites of Indus and Ghandara civilizations.
He said that Pakistan is rich in natural beauty and is also a center of ancient culture and civilizations. Shehbaz Sharif said that Punjab government is taking effective measures for the development of tourist sites and promotion of tourism.
He said that Tourism Department Punjab is operating double-decker buses for visiting historical sites of Lahore. He said that climate change is a big threat to promotion of tourism and there is a need to take effective measures for overcoming this problem.
The chief minister said that all out efforts should be made for activating tourism industry for strengthening national economy.
