The Tourism Ministry has set foreign exchange earning target of 300 million dollars during the next three years. The tourism industry of Pakistan earned over 135.6 million dollars during last fiscal. Federal Minister for Tourism, Dr Ghazi Gulab Jamal told this while addressing a press conference here on Saturday. The present government has taken pragmatic steps to promote the facilities to national/foreign tourists in order to double the current figure of foreign exchange earnings in the years to come, he said.
The minister also announced the celebration of Ghandhara Civilisation Week and directed the authorities to develop other tourist attractions in deserts and coastal areas of the country to attract international tourists.
The arrangements for Ghandhara celebration will be finalised in couple of months and the event is likely to be connected with Basant in Lahore. The event would be made an international event and the foreign media would also be invited to Pakistan to portray positive picture of our tourism-friendly environment abroad, Ghazi added.
He told the media that nearly 4,500 tourists came to Pakistan from different countries this year, adding Pakistani expatriates in United Kingdom and European countries would be mobilised to present soft picture about the tourism-friendly atmosphere in the country.
Ghazi Gulab further said that like this year, the Ghandhara civilisation year would be celebrated every year.
We have contacted the Pakistani High Commissioner in UK to activate expatriates in this regard, he said adding "We have planned to bring the international media professionals to Pakistan at the government expenses to cover such events to highlight the good image of Pakistan that there is no law and order problem elsewhere in the country.
Besides other problems, lack of hotels, motels in every city of Pakistan is creating hurdle in way of promoting tourism. But, he said federal government has okayed construction of three five star hotels in Islamabad and issued strict directives to those who have been allotted plots in Lahore for hotels.
Following the marketing strategy of the present government, minister said that we have just recently participated in the World Travel Market held in London from November 8 to 11.
More than 45,000 officials, delegates, tour operators and travel agents attended the conference from about 140 countries of the world.
To promote tourism in Pakistan, High Commissioner in London has formed a committee comprising the Pakistani expatriates and tour operators to work out government plans.
He told media men that we have decided to review the tourism policy and it would be unfolded soon after consultation with public and private sectors besides tour operators and hoteliers.