Pakistan, Ukraine to bolster tourism cooperation

Islamabad: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan met Ukrainian Ambassador Volodymyr Lakomov in his office on Thursday to bolster the bilateral relations on tourism cooperation between the two countries.

During his meeting the managing director said that the combination of snow-capped mountain ranges of Pakistan, lakes, valleys, rivers, deserts, history and culture make Pakistan the most unique tourist destination of the world, an example of which is the Skardu where one can enjoy mountains, river, forest and desert at the same time and the flight lands between the sand dunes.

He told that after assuming the charge of PTDC Managing Director, he has segregated different sectors of tourism that include Religious, Sports & Adventure and Medical Tourism etc.

Ch. Ghafoor said tourism is the only industry through which we can spread message of peace in the country and counter the terrorism. There are lot more common tourism features between Pakistan and Ukraine which include Adventure Sports and mountaineering which can be jointly publicized and benefits can be reaped.

The ambassador said that he has visited a numerous places in Pakistan and found that there is a huge tourism potential which requires proper publicity. He told that he has visited Gilgit-Baltistan, Lahore and Moenjodaro. Ukraine has a number of ski resorts where a large number of adventure tourists participate in annual ski tournaments. Pakistan also needs to develop ski resorts. He told that last year, a number of tourists from Ukraine visited Pakistan for participating in Skiing Tournament at Nalter. He said that he is fond of Qasuri Fenugreek (Maithi) and likes Pakistani cuisine very much. He appreciated the role of Pakistani Ambassador in Ukraine Athar Abbas for promoting Pakistan tourism in Ukraine and said that most of Ukrainian Embassy Staff in Islamabad is recently posted and they are willing to visit different tourist places in Pakistan. Managing Director said that we invite them to visit Swat Valley, Ayubia and Nathia Gali. MD also presented him a copy of PTDC newly published Amazing Pakistan Magazine which was very much appreciated by the ambassador.