“Punjab can attract tourists”

LAHORE: Punjab has all elements of becoming a destination of choice for tourists owing to its historical monuments, cultural diversity and hospitable people. Speakers expressed these remarks while addressing a seminar “Punjab Tourism Policy” held on Saturday in Lahore.

Punjab secretary for youth affairs, sports, archaeology and tourism department Muhammad Amir Jan said that efforts were being made to evolve the comprehensive Punjab tourism policy with an approach towards the development of tourism. He said that all stakeholders should give their recommendations so that things could be improved in the larger interest of the tourism sector.

Punjab secretary planning and development Iftikhar Ali Sahoo said that the tourism industry is a promising and ever-growing field around the world. He said that sharing of ideas and experiences always helps to ensure betterment.

A detailed presentation was given on “Punjab Tourism Policy” which disclosed that the policy has four main pillars that include promotion, awareness, branding and marketing. The policy would help in the restructuring of government departments that were regulating tourism along with uplift of infrastructure, and that the private sector would be encouraged in tourism. It was further briefed in the presentation that the tourism potential of Punjab includes religious tourism, adventure and desert tourism, cultural and heritage tourism, eco-tourism, and urban and recreational tourism. The policy is being devised to ensure state of the art tourist services across Punjab, focus on heritage tourism and to fast-track the economic growth of the province.

Other speakers said that through the development and management of well-articulated policies, product projection, marketing strategies and public-private partnerships, the tourism sector in Punjab would contribute to the overall socio-economic development of Pakistan.

TDCP managing director Ahmer Mallick and other stakeholders were also present on the occasion.