SANGLA HILL
Strict visa policy, poor law and order, 18th Amendment and flawed tourism policy are the main hindrances in promotion of tourism in Pakistan, the Pakistan Association of Tour Operators told the federal minister for Kashmir affairs here on Sunday.
“Pakistan is lagging far behind even those countries that have less tourism opportunities than former,” said the representatives of PATO during the meeting held at the minister’s office where Federal Secretary Shahidullah Baig and Gilgit-Baltistan Council Joint Secretary Ajmal Gondal were also present.
They also discussed the problems being faced by the foreign tourists in Pakistan. The federal minister however said that with the improvement in law and order, the visa problems would automatically be settled.
“We hope for betterment and are not disappointed. Former dictator plunged us into the war of others which has cost us more than $90 billion and a loss of more than 50,000 precious lives. Still, we are committed to improving the situation. This is why, the Chinese are set to invest $32 billion in Pakistan,” he said.
The association’s officeholders pointed out the hiccups faced by the tourism sector and urged the federal minister to take up the cause of tourism before Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
The meeting was conducted in order to promote tourism industry. A committee comprising the representatives of tour operators, under the chairmanship of Muhammad Ajmal Gondal, was constituted during the meeting which would come up with suggestions to attract more tourists in the country.
Mr Tahir also tasked the committee to suggest actions to make Pakistan’s participation more effective in next year’s ITB meeting. He also directed to conduct more such meetings to promote the sector. He had participated in world’s largest Travel Trade Show ITB in Berlin during the current month to promote tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan. Owning to poor representation and low level of enthusiasm from Pakistani side, he had decided to take up the issue as a national cause.