Chairman National Tourism Board (NTB) Zulfi Bukhari said that establishment of tourism zone would prove a milestone in the development of tourism sector and attracting more tourists and visitors to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Speaking at the 4th Tech Valley Conference 2019 in Abbottabad, Zulfi Bukhari said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is establishing tourism zone to promote sector across the province. It would be followed by Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan to get the desired results of digital and sustainable development in the tourism sector.
Senator Azam Swati, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Gilgit-Baltistan Minister for Tourism Fida Khan, Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) General Manager Sajjad Hameed, Tech Valley Abbottabad chief executive officer Umar Farooq, Hashoo Group chief marketing officer Lashley A. Pulsipher, World Bank private sector senior specialist Kiran Afzal, PTV World head Mirza Masood Baig, Galiyat Development Authority Director General Raza Ali Habib, representatives of private sector, social media bloggers and a large number of stakeholders attended the conference.
NTB chairman hailed the KP government for taking tangible steps for the promotion of tourism and termed the engagement of private sector a positive initiative in that direction. He said the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) previous government had done a lot for the promotion of tourism and development and rehabilitation of scenic places, including Galiyat, Malam Jabba and elsewhere.
"With the establishment of tourism zone and tourism authority, the foreign tourists would be able to get all facilities under one-window operation," Zulfi Bukhari said.
Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that tourism and the latest technology were part and parcel to take the sector to development by generating revenue for the government and the local populace. It would also provide employment and various businesses to the youth.
TCKP General Managing Sajjad Hameed said that Tourism Department had joined hands with the private sector to promote tourism. He said that work on the establishment of tourism zone had been initiated, which will pave the way for development of the sector.
Highlighting various projects, Sajjad Hameed said that adventure tourism and adventure sports activities were being organized in the province. He said camping pods were established which were now facilitating the tourists in scenic spot.
The official said under the integrated project measures had been taken for developing tourism infrastructure, institutional development and capacity-building of tourism industry services. He said a project had already been launched for installation of camping pods in tourist resorts while Directorate of Tourist Service (DTS) had stared work across the province.
The DTS would soon upload its data of hotels; restaurants rent-A car and travel agencies online. He said it will help promote tourism in the province besides facilitating the tourists to get data of hotels, restaurants and travel agencies online. He said the initiative would also help an official of the DTS to locate a hotel, restaurant or a travel agency through Global Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) and obtain the required information.