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Pakistan’s tourism sector is seeing new rapid developments, almost on a monthly basis. Since last year, as the world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic, the government of Pakistan has made concerted efforts to revitalize activity in the country’s tourism sector. The efforts made by Pakistan Tourist Development Corporation (PTDC) have also borne fruit as in the last year alone, Pakistan has won two accolades by making it to the list of 10 under-the-radar tourist destinations for 2020 by Forbes, an international publication, and topping Conde Nast Traveller’s list for Best Holiday Destination for 2020. Now, with Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to involve the private sector in the country’s hospitality industry, the Tourism Hotel Managers Association of Turkey (TUROYD) has expressed interest in exploiting this opportunity for mutual benefit.
TUROYD & Turkish Involvement In Pakistan’s Tourism
According to a leading daily, a delegation of TUROYD, led by the organization’s President, Ali Can Aksu, met with Minister of State/Chairman Board of Investment, Atif Bokhari, at the BOI Office. The TUROYD discussed investment opportunities in Pakistan’s tourism sector, and offered specialised services/expertise pertaining to Pakistan’s tourism and hospitality industries.
TUROYD is an association that’s an amalgam of the tourism and hospitality industries. Comprising members of hotel and tour operators, it aims to establish a connection between different stakeholders for the promotion of Turkey’s tourism sector. It currently offers specialized services to 71 countries across the globe.
During the presentation, President Ali Can Aksu noted that tourism dynamics have drastically changed due to the ongoing pandemic. He highlighted that his organization is now working towards ecological tourism, something which Prime Minister Khan has also always promoted. Ali Can Aksu said that TUROYD is always looking to explore new new tourist destinations and Pakistan has the potential to become one of the top tourist destinations in the world.
The BOI chairman, Atif Bokhari appreciated the statement and highlighted that they are similar to the government’s initiative towards tourism promotion. He added that for its privatizing state-owned tourism sites, the government of Pakistan thinks TUROYD presents a lucrative opportunity. Moreover, after the meeting, the BOI is now planning to set up specialized institutes for training professionals in the hospitality and service industry. It has also assured all possible assistance in materializing their investment endeavors in Pakistan.
What More Is Happening In Tourism Sector
A number of initiatives have been introduced in Pakistan’s tourism sector. Apart from plans of privatizing, and involving internationally-renowned hospitality institutions, the government is all prepared for the forthcoming holiday season.
Recently, the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province introduced an extensive policy for the tourism sector, called the Summer Plan 2021. Under this, the tourism sector will introduce Integrated Tourism Zones, establish tourist resorts, further develop tourist attractions, promote value-added services, promote sports under tourist festivals, and develop infrastructure.
This in itself is a welcomed move and is sure to take Pakistan’s tourism sector to unprecedented heights this year.
Moreover, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Syed Zulfikar Abbas Bukhari, has announced that the country is planning to expand the hospitality industry in the next two to three years, by building 25-30 more motels across the country.
Recently, as an homage to Pakistan’s vibrant past, PM Khan launched the Al Beruni Radius aimed at reviving Pakistan’s heritage tourism. This initiative is especially important as it incorporates religious places of Hindus and other minorities, and is aimed at celebrating interfaith harmony that has traditionally existed in the country.
If you are interested in exploring Pakistan, check out our dedicated guides to explore the best places to visit in 2021, mentioned below. These have been separated according to regions, so you can plan where you want to go first to explore Pakistan’s tourism in 2021.
South
- The best beaches to explore in Pakistan
- Balochistan’s pristine valleys
- Balochistan’s Charo Mach Waterfall
- Sindh’s Astola Island
Up North
- Pakistan’s first Safari Tourist Train
- Chinji National Park
- Ratti Gali Lake
- Attock Fort
- Islamabad’s Forestry Park
- Lahore becomes one of 52 most-loved cities
- Pakistan’s tourism festivals
- Margalla Hills
- Soon Valley
- Best Icy Lakes
Visit these places and write to us at blog@zameen.com to share your experiences. Also, keep visiting Pakistan’s largest property blog, for all the latest information on Pakistan.
