The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) has achieved its target to promote domestic tourism and reinstated the soft image of Pakistan at national and international level. This was stated by PTDC Managing Director Chaudhry Kabir Ahmad Khan adding that despite the negative projection by the international media more than thirty percent (30%) increase in tourism has been observed.
The corporation initiated these steps on the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to facilitate tourists, enhance the revenue generation of PTDC to make it a self-sustaining organisation by taking initiatives of security provision, he remarked. Elaborated measures were taken to provide security to the foreign tourists visiting different parts of the country, for which PTDC has increased security at all resorts including Murree, Galiyat, Ayubia, Kaghan, Swat, Chitral, Kalash and Shandur, he added.
He said the PTDC has planned to introduce Tourism Friends Club Card for overseas Pakistani tourists, through which incentives like discounts on room rates, tour packages and transport services will be given, he maintained. He informed that tourist traffic to regular tourists places have considerably increased during 2013 and 2014, while Pakistani tourists visited new destinations like Gilgit, Hunza, Fairy Meadows, Rama Lake, Chitral, Kalash and Shandur valleys as well.
He said PTDC will welcome development and operation of tourism projects in different parts of the country under a public private partnership programme, in addition to this, PTDC land at Gaddani Beach and in Balochistan would be utilised for launching projects like developing a beach resort, outdoor and indoor games facilities and water-sports club which would help in generating income," he stated.
Meanwhile, Khan informed that PTDC has not been affected by the 18th Amendment, only tourism ministries were handed over to the provinces, while the provincial governments and concerned district management were in a close contact with PTDC to ensure the security of the tourists, he said.