President Asif Ali Zardari has urged all associated with tourism industry to undertake every effort for the promotion and transforming this area into one of the most vibrant sector of the economy.
“Fortunately, Pakistan is bestowed with enormously rich natural as well as man-made cultural treasures. From the relics of Indus Civilization to the traces of famed Gandhara Civilization, our rich cultural heritage, enchanting landscape spreading over the warm beaches to deserts and fertile plains to the awesome mountain peaks, we offer the tourist across the world a unique and diversified destination to visualize journey of mankind through ages and the splendid beauties of nature,” the president said in his message on the occasion of ‘World Tourism Day’.
The President said that unfortunately the country had not been able to exploit full potential of this magnificent treasure due to variety of reasons.
In present day context, he said when there was greater realization for the need to integrate promotion of tourism with energy-efficient practices and to reduce carbon foot-prints for a healthier environment and sustainable development, the need for promoting tourism on modern lines was even greater for countries like Pakistan, which were far behind the developed nations in fully developing tourism into a robust industry and to ensure that the growth of industry was accompanied by adoption of energy efficient practices.
The President said that World Tourism Day each year was a reminder of the important role played by the tourism industry in the socio-economic development of the country and its contribution in bringing the people of different parts of the world closer to each other by fostering a better understanding for the foreign cultures and way of life.
Lure tourists, enhance economy
