LAHORE, March 3: A 16-member tourism delegation headed by Balbir S. Mayal, president of the Travel Agents Association of India, is reaching here on a four-day visit on Friday.

The delegation, invited by the Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP), will discuss details to hold a joint conference with its Pakistani counterpart and officials of tourism ministry.

The conference will be organized by the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) at Lahore by the end of April. TAAP vice-chairman Akhtar Mummunka said here on Wednesday that 'Tourism -- a bridge to peace and prosperity' was the key word for the revival of tourism around the globe.

He said the tourism industry in Pakistan that provided livelihood, directly or indirectly, to over one million people, was on the verge of collapse since 9/11. He said the American and European tourists were not likely to return in near future due to anti-travel advisories to Pakistan issued by the respective governments.

Mr Mummunka said the Saarc countries, with the exception of Pakistan, have thriving tourism business. He said there was a vast middle class in India that had resources and great interest in visiting Pakistan.