Baku, 29 June 2022 (TDI): Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari, addressed the 11th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM).
Fed Minister for @mo_ipc, @officialemazari addressing the 11th session of ICTM in Azerbaijan, said that tourism can increase foreign exchange, economic growth & employment. Pakistan is taking commendable steps to promote tourism with islamic countries.@PakinAzerbaijan@AzEmbPak pic.twitter.com/XzF7iMRSqj
— Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (@mo_ipc) June 28, 2022
160 Representatives from 39 countries, including the Secretary-General OIC, Hissein Brahim Taha, participated in the two-day ICTM conference.
Ehsan Ur Rehman said that the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a significant loss in the tourism sector globally.
He said that Tourism is one of the most important sources of generating valuable foreign exchange, economic growth, and employment in the OIC Member States.
Talking about tourism in Pakistan, the federal minister stated that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif is taking a keen interest in promoting tourism with OIC member states and other Islamic countries.
In promoting tourism, the Government of Pakistan is setting up new facilitation centers for the promotion of tourism.
Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation
Pakistan will be launching an e-portal that will facilitate both foreign and domestic tourists.
Moreover, the e-portal will provide all the necessary information and other services provided for tourism in Pakistan.
Moreover, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) will soon be holding a conference on sustainable tourism in the OIC Member States.
In the end, Ehsan Ur Rehman Mazari proposed a few steps toward the promotion of cooperation in tourism among the OIC States.
The federal minister said that it’s a joint movement and all the OIC states need to play their part by collaborating with each other in promoting tourism.
He stated that the collaboration between tourism stakeholders- both the government and private sectors- must be ensured. Strong linkages can achieve it.
Similarly, providing easy entry and visa services to cross-border tourism will improve tourism.
Furthermore, He added that holding tourism exhibitions among Muslim countries can play a vital role in this regard.
Tourism in Pakistan
Pakistan is geographically and ethnically diverse and blessed with many historical and cultural heritage sites.
Similarly, Pakistan has the blessing of the world’s tallest mountain ranges, Karakoram Himalaya, and Hindukush in the north of Pakistan.
Moreover, there are over 100 mountain ranges that are over 8 thousand meters in height.
And most glaciers in the world, with over 7,000 (except for the polar areas) are found in Pakistan.
In 2020, Pakistan’s ranking was the best holiday destination and the third-highest potential adventure destination for tourism in the world.
As security improves in the country, tourism increases. In the past two years, tourism in
Pakistan has increased by more than 300%.
The Government of Pakistan has been providing online visa services for almost 175 countries. In addition, more than 50 countries get visas upon arrival and visit.
Social media personalities visiting Pakistan are playing a significant part in promoting tourism and showing the beauty of the country.
