The Faisalabad Tour Operators Association (FTOA) has welcomed the government decision to observe the year of 2007 as 'Visit Pakistan Year.' Talking to newsmen, FTOA Chairman Muhammad Akram said that tourism is one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
He said various countries have successfully exploited this industry to overcome the issues of unemployment in addition to strengthening their economies. Appreciating the government decision to observe 2007 as 'Visit Pakistan Year', he stressed the need for reorganising tourism at the grassroots level.
He said that tourists' attractions at the district level should be identified and later inter-district, inter-regional and inter-provincial competitions should be organised to identify the tourist sites clearly defining their historic, archaeological, religious or scenic importance.
"All these events should be properly projected in local, regional, national and international media", he said, and added that it would not only introduce these sites but also provide local as well as foreign tourists to select a site of their own choice for their visits during the celebrations of 'Visit Pakistan Year.' Muhammad Akram said that Northern Areas were known for their scenic beauty while other parts of Pakistan also have scores of historic sites.
Similarly, there are dozens of sites, which could be developed for their religious importance, he said, and added that the country could earn precious foreign exchange by developing these sites to attract Hindus, Sikhs and Buddhists to visit their holy sites. He said that subject of tourism should also be introduced at school and college levels with a compulsory practical work.