Formation of tourism authority on the cards

Islamabad: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor Khan said that efforts are underway transform PTDC into National Tourism Authority (NTA) to work at federal level for promotion of tourism in the country.

Talking exclusively to ‘The News’ here Thursday, the managing director hoped that the task of establishment of National Tourism Authority in place of PTDC would be achieved very soon.

Ghafoor Khan stated that the UNWTO delegates who visited Pakistan recently to attend a conference on tourism have also in their report have strongly recommended the establishment of National Tourism Authority in Pakistan which should work at federal level. The mission of the establishment of NTA would be mainly to promote Pakistan as a tourism destination in the international tourism market.

The managing director told that paying attention on the proposals of the UNWTO delegates, he is holding negotiations with the concerned quarters in the federal government which also include Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. During the meeting, the prime minister was briefed about the objectives to be achieved with the formation of NTA. PTDC, as the owner of serious real estate, could be transformed in the investment branch of tourism in Pakistan. A part of the revenue to be generated through tourism activities could be used for promotional purposes.

The mission on which he is making efforts for transforming PTDC into NTA would be achieved very soon as he foresees positive results and impacts towards this direction, Ghafoor Khan stated.

The managing director stated that the recommendations made by UNWTO delegates in a report would soon be forwarded to the Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi besides other related authorities in the government.

Replying to a question, the PTDC chief stated besides recommending establishment of NTA in Pakistan, the UNWTO members have also nominated his name as chief of Tourism to represent in the 31st Joint Commission Meeting for East Asia Pacific and South Asia to be held in Pakistan in 2019 in collaboration with UNWTO. The Joint Commission meeting is likely to be attended by all the members of East Asia Pacific and South Asia. Similarly, UNWTO has also nominated him as its representative of Pakistan.