A 25-member Chinese delegation will arrive Islamabad on Friday to attend the forthcoming weeklong Gandhara art festival. The delegation includes officials from Beijing Tourism Administration, Xinjiang Tourism Administration, representatives of Chinese media and the travelling agencies. Pakistan ambassador Salman Bashir at a meeting held here briefed the delegation about the Gandhara week and its historical importance.
The week, he said offered a good opportunity to know more about tourism facilities and Buddhist heritage in Pakistan. "We welcome China's active involvement in the preservation and development of archaeological sites in Pakistan, he said adding the government and the people of Pakistan wish to share their rich cultural heritage with the Chinese friends.
Meanwhile, an official of the Chinese Tourism Administration Liu Jin said there are bright prospects for the two countries to enhance tourism and people-to people contacts through such cultural events.
Talking to APP, he said the relevant departments of the two countries should take concrete measures for tourism promotion.
"We are getting a favourable response from the tourists to visit the South Asian countries that have been granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the government, he added.
Pakistan was granted the status in 2003, allowing their selected tour operators to formally negotiate the tour packages to attract the tourists.
A Chinese tour operator in an interview said they consider Pakistan as one of the ideals destinations for travelling in view of the existing deep-rooted friendship. However, he added the Chinese tourists and enterprises are not quite familiar with Pakistani picturesque scenic spots and its other tourism potentials.