Hill stations await tourists

Pakistan Tourism Corporation (PTDC) has welcomed the tourists to its fabulous destinations that are located at remote, but enchanting and cooler places. The corporation is all set to facilitate tourists at its resorts situated in picturesque areas including Murree, Ayubia, Nathiagali, Azad Kashmir, Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Gilgit, Hunza and Skardu.
The PTDC has set up resorts, hotels, motels and restaurants with state-of-the-art facilities which are now open from May 1 to welcome tourists at affordable rates. To encourage the tourists to enjoy the beauty of Pakistan, PTDC has launched a number of discounted tour packages for groups, families and students.
Tourist coach services to Swat and Kaghan Valley will be resumed from June 1. Apart from this, PTDC has also set up accommodation facilities at fairy-tale places like Rama Lake, Phandar Lake, Gupis, Mastuj, Bunni, Bumburet (Kalash Valley) and Khaplu in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral areas.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of PTDC Mir Shahjahan Khetran underlined the need for efforts on 'emergency footing' to encourage domestic and foreign tourists to Pakistan.
The MD said PTDC was making all out efforts to welcome the tourists. Allaying the security-related concerns of the tourists, Khetran said everything was back to normal, and the nature-lovers should feel free to go visit any destination. He, however, asked the national media to promote country's image and its tourism potential.
From a modest beginning with 10 units in 1976, PTDC Motels have now expanded its boarding, lodging and restaurant facilities to 43 remote tourist destinations across the country.
Fourteen motels have been leased out to private parties, hereas remaining units are being operated by PTDC itself. With over 600 rooms, it has now become the largest chain of motels and restaurants in the country.
In line with government's tourism development strategy, PTDC motels were constructed to meet two primary objectives; to open up new areas for tourism and set the pace for the private sector to follow as well as to initiate socio-economic development of the area.
The PTDC has been successful to meet these objectives and presents an accessible and affordable facility at the most picturesque sites nature has to offer. PTDC Motels are set up in areas where private sector is shy to invest or where infrastructure facilities are not yet fully developed.
Playing a role of pioneer and trend setter, PTDC Motels have always opened up new and remote places for tourism thus bringing infrastructure (road, water, electricity, telephone etc) facilities and employment opportunities at the door-step of the local communities. PTDC Motels lead the road to prosperity and development.
For facilitation of tourists, PTDC has set up a website: www.tourism.gov.pk, in addition to its 18 Tourist Information Centres located in main cities and tourist places.