Pakistan has great potential for rapid deve1opment in tourism sector, but requires proper infrastructure with all facilities so that the historical and tourist spots may attract foreign tourists.
The present government has decided to carry out effective marketing of the cultural, historical and tourist spots of the country in the world and the declaration of the year 2007 as the 'Tourism Year' is the start of revolutionary measures that are being made by the present government.
This was stated by Federal Minister for Tourism, Nilofar Bakhtiar, while talking to APP during her visit to one of the oldest forts, Ranni Kot, some 25 km away from here late on Saturday evening.
She said that President Pervez Musharraf has desired to promote tourism by eliminating terrorism. Therefore, the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has prepared comprehensive short term and long term strategies for rapid development in tourism sector.
The government has initiated revolutionary steps in this respect and to restructure the tourism sector so that all facilities like restaurants, hotels, souvenir shops and tour guides could be available at the tourist spots of the country.
The security and maintenance of law and order is also essential in promoting tourism, and the government is also making efforts in this direction, she said.
She said that the year 2007 is the beginning of the projects, which would be launched by federal and provincial governments during the year.
A 12-month long calendar has been scheduled in which different activities of sports and culture would be carried out at federal and provincial levels, she added.
She said that efforts are being made to make effective interaction between all stakeholders including Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, Ministry of Tourism, Pakistan Hotels Association, airlines and tour operators in order to achieve the targeted objectives and motivate the foreigners to visit the historical, cultural and recreational places in Pakistan.
The government efforts also include effective marketing of these places of the country during international exhibitions, she said, and added that such marketing would not only attract the foreigners to visit Pakistan, but socio economic condition of the masses would also be improved.