Pakistan an attractive tourism destination with huge investment potential: Nafees Zakarai
High Commissioner Mohammad Nafees Zakaria has said Pakistan is an attractive tourism destination with ever increasing interest of international tourists in the country. He was speaking at a tourism networking reception organized in honour of a tourism delegation that participated in the World Travel Market in London from 4-6 November 2019 and put up a Pakistan Tourism Pavilion representing all federating Units of the country.
Tour Operators, Travel Writers, Travel Bloggers and senior officials of the Tourism Departments of Pakistan got together at the Networking event and exchanged ideas on tourism promotion in Pakistan at the High Commission on 07 November 2019.
Governor Gilgit-Baltistan Raja Jalal Hussain Maqpoon, Minister Tourism Gilgit-Baltistan Fida Khan, renowned photographer Colin Prior, Co-Founder The British Backpacker Society Michael Worral, WTM representative Claude Blanc, Blogger and Co-Founder Ze Wandering Frogs Patricia Pagenel and Blogger Tom Grand were among the attendees Vanessa O’Brien, famous mountaineer who scaled K-2, sent her best wishes for the event.
On this occasion, the High Commissioner apprised the audience of the tourism attractions and related investment opportunities in Pakistan. He said Pakistan is blessed with tourism attractions for people from every walk of life and has the most beautiful places on earth. That’s why, he added, Pakistan is witnessing exponential rise in number of tourists with each passing year. Be it religious tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, sports tourism, mountaineering, trekking or skiing, Pakistan offers abundant opportunities for the tourists, he added.
Mr Zakaria said the land of Pakistan is a cradle of ancient civilisations and religions. He particularly mentioned the presence of sacred places of the Sikh religion and updated the attendees on the facilitation being provided for the Sikh Yatris by the Government of Pakistan as well as the High Commission in London to mark the 55oth birth anniversary of Baba Guru Nanak. He felicitated the Sikh community.
On this occasion, the Kartarpur Song produced by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Islamabad was launched. The Song celebrates the opening of the Kartarpur Corridor for Sikh pilgrims. A group representing the Sikh community of the UK specially participated in the launching ceremony to express their sentiments of happiness about opening of the Corridor. The High Commissioner welcomed the Sikh representatives to the reception.
In his remarks, the Governor highlighted tourism potential of Pakistan, particularly highlighting Gilgit-Baltistan. He invited international tourists as well as investment in tourism infrastructure development. The Governor said by participating in the WTM, the tourism officials and tour operators of Pakistan would get an insight into the global travel industry to harness endless opportunities in tourism sector of the country.
The event provided a good networking opportunity to the attendees to forge linkages and future plans for participation in tourism in Pakistan.
