Pakistan, Latvia to fasten tourism ties

Rawalpindi: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Ch. Abdul Ghafoor Khan met Latvian Honorary Consul General in Pakistan, Ch. Iftikhar Rasul Ghumman on Wednesday to fasten the bilateral relations on tourism cooperation between the two countries.

He 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, I have segregated the different sectors of tourism that include Religious, Sports & Adventure and Medical Tourism etc. He informed that he visited Thailand and met their Tourism Police Chief in order to learn from their experience and launch a same force in Pakistan too. He added that the Prime Minister’s vision for development of Pakistan as modern and prosperous country resulted into launch of CPEC project which is starting from GB.

CPEC is the future of Pakistan which will create millions of jobs not only for the country but also for the region by playing a pivotal role in launching these billions of dollars economic activities for Pakistan. In past tourism was a neglected sector but the present Government is committed to develop Pakistan into an international hub for business and tourism setting an example for rest of the world. We are presently focusing on Gilgit-Baltistan and soon a ski resort will be developed at Nalter Valley in addition to a 5-star hotel at Gilgit by the river. We are offering our 25 acres of land at Islamabad for development of a tourist resort as well as PTDC ongoing projects are also available for joint ventures.

Ch. Ghafoor said that 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 Latvia which include cultural and archaeological heritage as well as beach tourism which can be jointly publicized and benefits can be reaped. He added that Pakistan Coastal Belt spreads over 1000 kms where countless opportunities for investments are available.

The Consul General 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. Latvia has a number of beach resorts spread over a span of over 500 kms of coastline where a large number of tourists visit every year. Pakistan also needs to develop beach resorts. Latvia is famous of its wooden products and exports. The annual volume of trade between Pakistan and Latvia has increased upto 100 million US dollars. The low tourist flow between the two countries is due to very reason of low information in addition to absence of proper embassies in both the countries.

MD also presented him a copy of PTDC newly published Amazing Pakistan Magazine which was very much appreciated by the Consul General.