SALMAN JAVAID

What is tourism?

Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure, or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes"

Tourism spots in Pakistan:

UNESCO:

Currently Pakistan major cultural sites that are categorised as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These include: Archaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro of the Indus Valley Civilization. 1st Century Buddhist Ruins at Takht-i-Bahi and Neighbouring City Remains at Sahr-i-Bahlol. The ruins of Taxila from the Gandhara Civilization The Lahore Fort and Shalimar Gardens in

CONTD.

Faisalabad Clock Tower and the Eight Bazaars Altit Fort in Hunza Valley 17th and 18th century Tombs of Talpur Mirs Faiz Mahal of the Talpur Mirs Samadhi of Ranjit Singh Mughal built tomb of Asaf Khan Empress Market built during the rule of the British Empire 19th Century Italian chateau Noor Palace Derawar Fort Mughal-built Hiran Minar One of the oldest salt mines in Asia, Khewra Salt Mines

Investment Policy in tourism Sector

The main objective of the present Investment Policy of Pakistan is to enhance the level of foreign investmenttourism and construction industries. The main features of this policy are listed as follows: The Investment Policy deals with investment in all sectors of the economy and not merely in tourism sector; The Investment Policy is business friendly and provides equal investment opportunities for domestic and foreign investors as well as Overseas Pakistanis; liberalizing the policy regime; offering fiscal and tariff incentives; and providing procedural and social facilitation.

Ali Ayub

Hotels and Tourism

Pakistan can also safely boast of being the cradle of one of the oldest and richest civilisations in the world, the Indus Valley Civilization. The tourism sector, unfortunately, has not seen development to its potential in the past, and consequently Pakistan has lagged in terms of tourist influx in comparison with other countries in the region. Realising the need to promote growth in this field, tourism has now been opened to the private sector.

Govt Supports:

Hotels, resorts, tour operators, tourism and recreationrelated projects/facilities like amusement parks, aviation, adventure tourism, mountaineering, water sports etc. Locally Manufactured Machinery (LMM) credit financing will be available to hotel/tourism industry as well as to tour operators; Adequate facilities for tourists will be established along highways. Alcoholic drinks (local as well as imported) will be allowed to be served in exclusive rooms (for non Muslim foreign guests who are entitled under the law); Old buildings which are important from historical or cultural aspects will be preserved with proper maintenance for

China declared Pakistan favoured destination for Chinese tourists:

In the year 2010, total 27887 Chinese tourists visited Pakistan, out of which maximum number was for official purpose or business meetings. We are trying hard to bring more Chinese tourists to come to Pakistan for tourism purpose. Pakistan is already providing visa-on-arrival facility to Chinese group tourists. China has declared Pakistan as most favoured destination for Chinese tourists. Since 2004, PTDC in collaboration with public and private sector organizations is regularly participating in Beijing International Tourism Expo and Tianjin Travel Exhibition.

PTDC Participation In bringing Investments:

To promote Pakistans tourism products and create soft image of the country PTDC participated in UNWTO Conference in Worlds largest ITB Berlin Tourism Exhibition, World Islamic Tourism Mart in Malaysia, SAARC Tour Operators Conclave in India and SAARC Travel & Tourism Mart in Bangladesh. During 2010, Pakistan received 906,818 foreign tourists and earned US$ 306 million from tourism. Over 200,000 visitors to Pakistan were from South Asia Region forming 22.5% of the total arrivals. On domestic level, PTDC arranges media familiarizations trips to Naran, Ayubia, Swat, Chitral and other places every year.

Policy and Strategy Govt should take:

Policy support would be provided in implementing the key proposals of the master plan in five broad areas covering legislation, management, organization and facilitation; investment, funding, infrastructure, transport tax, and concessions; marketing, promotion and product development; environment, conservation and planning; human resource development and community development. Policy measures for tourism development would include a paradigm shift from promoting seasonal tourism to year round tourism an emphasis on qualitative improvement of tourist services and the tourist product

Tourism Investment Under Federal (2010-12) RS MILLION

Research St 50

Motels at Thandiani/ Naltarudies

Upgradation of ITHM Lahore and Rawalpindi Beach Resort at Gwadar Chairlift at Ziarat Restoration of Sheikh Badin Resort

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Ski resort at Shogran

TFCs at four locations in Northern Areas

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