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<\/p>\n
World\u00a0Tourism Day\u00a02018\u00a0is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the potential contribution of digital technologies to sustainable tourism development, while providing a platform for investment, partnerships and collaboration towards a more responsible and inclusive tourism sector This was told by Dr. Nadeem Omar Tarar, Executive Director, C2D while addressing the seminar on the\u00a0world\u00a0Tourism Day here Thursday.<\/p>\n
He said that It provides a unique opportunity to raise awareness among the\u00a0government,\u00a0civil society\u00a0and\u00a0media, on tourism’s actual and potential contribution to sustainable development of\u00a0Pakistan.<\/p>\n
This year, the Day’s official celebrations are being held in\u00a0Budapest,\u00a0Hungary, a country enjoying steady growth of tourism backed by consistent policy support and a commitment to the digital future. The celebrations in\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0aims to protect and promote\u00a0Pakistan’s plural past.<\/p>\n
In introducing the seminar on\u00a0World\u00a0Tourism Day, Dr. Nadeem Omar Tarar, Executive Director, C2D said that there is dire need to bring\u00a0all\u00a0the stakeholders on the platform to work together to develop\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0into a number one\u00a0travel\u00a0destination of the\u00a0world.<\/p>\n
Addressing to the seminar, Dr. Nadeem Omer Tarar introduced the theme of the Day for\u00a02018, selected by\u00a0World Tourism Organization, which is “Tourism and the Digital Transformation” .<\/p>\n
Veteran educationist Nasreen Iqbal, stressed that the need to educate youth, the school and college children to explore\u00a0Pakistan’s rich cultural and architectural past. She argued that tourism can help promote peace and social cohesion among the culturally diversified regions of\u00a0Pakistan, while using tourism as a\u00a0vehicle\u00a0of cultural diplomacy.<\/p>\n
In the seminar, Zubair Quershi, advisor to C2D, overviewed the development of tourism\u00a0industry, after\u00a0independence\u00a0in 1947 which saw its heydays in the 60s.<\/p>\n
After the glorious period, where\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0was number one travel destination, the decline set in and the situation was marred by the onslaught of terrorism in the country, putting\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0on the international map of tourism, not terrorism!! Habib Mirza, Board member, International Council of Museum (ICOM) highlighted the untapped potential of tourism in\u00a0Pakistan. He cited the examples of relics of Lord Bhudha in\u00a0Pakistani\u00a0museums, which are not allowed to be exhibited publicly due to security threats. In contrast,\u00a0Sri Lanka, and\u00a0Japan, who shared the similar relics, such as teeth of Bhudda, (which\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0has too) have attracted\u00a0billion\u00a0dollar\u00a0tourism\u00a0industry\u00a0in their respective countries. He stressed the role\u00a0Pakistani\u00a0museum can play in promoting tourism in\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0and invited the\u00a0media\u00a0to play their role in showcasing\u00a0Pakistani\u00a0heritage to the\u00a0world.<\/p>\n
Rana Aftab, Chairman, Sustainable Tourism Foundation, appreciated the current drive for\u00a0PTI\u00a0to promote tourism in the country, but argued that it has to factor in the lack of adequate management framework and systems to sustain the huge demand for domestic tourism, which is causing huge environmental degradation. The plight of tourist resorts like\u00a0Murree\u00a0hills and valleys of\u00a0Swat\u00a0is deplorable example of the failure of the tourism management in\u00a0Pakistan.<\/p>\n
The President of the Rotary Club\u00a0Islamabad\u00a0reinforced the need for effective management of heritage sites to promote sustainable tourism in the country. She gave numerous examples of how community led initiatives can help save environment and wildlife to promote eco-tourism.<\/p>\n
In concluding the discussion, Dr Tarar thanked Lok Virsa for hosting the discussion on the potential and pitfalls of domestic and international tourism in\u00a0Pakistan.<\/p>\n
He said that C2D hopes that in the coming years\u00a0PTI\u00a0government\u00a0will live up to its promises to promote Tourism.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Sadia Abbas<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"