Minister: Pakistan can project softer image abroad through promotion of tourism

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif said tourism could play a vital role in bridging the gap between the country and international community and foste

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – Capital Development Authority (CDA) Chairman Nadeem Hassan Asif said tourism could play a vital role in bridging the gap between the country and international community and fostering socio-political understanding and cultural values worldwide.

Addressing a ceremony on the eve of World Tourism Day, which was celebrated with the theme โ€˜Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Futureโ€™, at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, he said tourism could contribute to the socio-economic development of every society. He said that it also helps understand the cultural values and traditions of other societies, people and religions.

Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage Minister Pervaiz Rashid was the chief guest on the occasion. While addressing the participants, he said a robust tourism industry was vital not only for the economy but also for interlinking nations. He said, โ€œWe can project Pakistanโ€™s softer image abroad through the promotion of tourism.โ€

Rashid said, โ€œPakistan offers tremendous attraction for tourists. We have the highest peaks in the world, archaeological treasures, diversity of culture, rich traditions and values, lush green planes, serene deserts, all four seasons and much more for tourists.โ€ However, he said the real potential of tourism in Pakistan was not being fully tapped.

He said the government fully supported the efforts of provincial governments and other organisations for the promotion of tourism in the country.

โ€œTourism helps in promoting friendly relations among nations and was vital for boosting economic activity, income generation, job creation and poverty alleviation.โ€

Tourism had a 10 percent share in the global economy and it made the world more stable by creating goodwill and bringing people closer, he added.

He said Pakistan is the land of the 5,000-year-old Indus Valley Civilisation with rich traditions of art and architecture.

Asif said the CDA was taking a number of initiatives for the growth of tourism in Islamabad following the governmentโ€™s imitative to promote tourism in the country.

He said the authority was using all available resources for improving tourist facilities in the city. Islamabad had many tourist attractions, including archaeological and modern architectural sites, he added.

Asif said, โ€œTourism and water preservation are our goals for the future in line with the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation.โ€

The CDA chairman said water preservation was a moral and social responsibility. He said the tourism industry could play a major role in this regard by creating awareness among tourists and reminding people around the globe of their responsibility for this noble cause.

The UN observes this day to highlight tourismโ€™s role in water access and to focus on the actions necessary for a more sustainable future and the challenges that lie ahead.

With the increasing demand for water due to massive industrial growth and depleting reservoirs, it has become extremely important to conserve this precious and increasingly scarce commodity. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has been celebrating World Tourism Day on September 27 every year since 1980.

The UNWTO promotes responsible, sustainable and universally-accessible tourism, especially in the developing countries. The day is marked to create awareness for the importance of tourism for every countryโ€™s society, culture, politics and economy.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

Share to...