Department of Tourism & Hospitality to be setup at all universities: PDDC MD

Islamabad

Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan has said that Department of Tourism and Hospitality will be set up in all leading universities. He stated this while addressing a seminar held at the Higher Education Commission.

Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan was the guest of honour on the occasion of preliminary meeting National Curriculum Revision Committee (NCRC) held under the auspice of the Higher Education Commission in the discipline of Tourism from November 15-17, 2016.

The purpose of the meeting was to develop the curriculum of tourism at undergraduate and graduate level, respectively. The major objectives of this meeting was to incorporate the subject of Tourism in curriculum so as to enable the future generation to unearth the hidden treasure generally and about the tourism and natural bounties in particular with which Pakistan already in abundant under its lofty mountains and deserts and plain field.

The managing director appreciated the efforts made by HEC to organise such events to create awareness among the youth and general public about the significance of tourism in the country. He said that the discipline of the tourism and hospitality was considered as a compulsory subject in all the Pakistani institutions/ universities and the present government is very keen to promote tourism in country and attaches highest importance with this Industry which has enormous cultural heritage with its natural untouched environment is truly tourist paradise that has an immense potential to be discovered.

PTDC managing director informed the participants that PTDC plans to organise a National Tourism Conference by inviting the learned scholars/professors besides renowned tour operators and travel agents so as to get benefits from their expertise in the field of tourism.

During the meeting, he emphasised the need of having Teaching and Training Institute which may impart/disseminate necessary training to the students/ employees who are already affiliated with the Tourism and Hospitality Industry and working, somehow, with Small and Big (4-Stars) Hotels. He said that five renowned universities have shown their interest to send their students of BS level in Tourism and Hospitality to PTDC on internship basis so as to bring change and to revolutionize tourism Industry. Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan has put forward recommendations for promotion/development of the discipline keeping in view the futuristic needs of the society. He thanked the HEC for incorporation of curriculum pertaining to Tourism and Hospitality in text books and for organizing a successful seminar in befitting manners and expressed the hope that the student will take interest in the field of Tourism which has vast opportunities of jobs throughout the country in both urban and rural areas.