Tourism industry is a pivotal factor that earns substantial amount for certain Western economies while nations like Maldives, Tanzania, Mauritius and some African countries totally rely on tourism. "However, Pakistans share in this multibillion trade stands at a modest level," Minister for Tourism Maulana Atta ur Rahman said on Saturday.
The minister said alleviation of poverty as well as creating employment opportunities in Pakistan was possible through tourism. He sought proactive involvement of private sector in tourism ventures and said it would be a huge task for the government alone to rescue this sinking industry. "Public-private partnership is vital to achieve this target." He, however, said his ministry in spite of being confronted with financial crunches was making all out efforts to develop countrys tourism industry.
A number of projects meant for promoting tourism are pending owing to syphoning off funds. Maulana Atta said confidence of foreign tourists needed to be boosted as they had been misled by the biased western media. "Let them know that we are peace-loving people." He called upon national media to counter anti-Islam and anti-Pakistan propaganda hatched by western media, which was adversely affecting its tourism industry.
In this connection, the minister would embark upon a foreign tour to remove the apprehensions of foreign countries about Pakistan. The event would also be used to learn from the expertise of such countries that registered high growth ratio in tourism sector. The minister underlined the need for improving law and order in NWFP where most of fascinating locations of the country existed. Tourism could not flourish under life-threatening situations.