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| October 1, 2005 | Saturday | Sha'aban 26, 1426 |
World Tourism Day Fair a big draw
LAHORE, Sept 30: The dictum tourism brings the world together seems to have been proved true at the ongoing World Tourism Day Fair being held at the Alhamra Cultural Complex at the Qadhafi Stadium. Delegations and cultural troupes from nine countries are participating.
The six-day WTD fair, organized by the Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab, is attracting hundreds of people from Lahore and other parts of the country daily. The day is being celebrated with a theme ‘travel’.
In an attempt to promote the image of Pakistan’s hospitality and cultural wealth, the TDCP has invited delegations from all over the country and nine other nations — the USA, China, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turkey.
All foreign delegations have set up their pavilions at the fair venue where they respond to the queries about touring different places and acquiring visas. They have also displayed different products for sale.
Iran alone has set up eight pavilions displaying products ranging from dresses, precious stones, handicraft, sweets, Iranian foods, besides providing literature and brochures highlighting the tourist attractions in the country.
Similarly, the other participating countries have also put up literature and brochures to exhibit the scenic beauty and other tourist attractions.
Talking to Dawn, Iranian Cultural Centre director-general and cultural attache M. Raza Amini Mashhadi said it was first experience that Iran was participating in an international tourism fair in Lahore. He said the objective was to bring the cultures of Pakistan and Iran together.
He said Iran had established eight stalls where different items, including posters of famous places, catalogues and brochures for general information, have been displayed. As most people go to Iran for Saffron, he said, brochures about Aastan-i-Quds Razavi had been displayed.
Mr Mashhadi said people liked Iranian products like dresses, precious stones, handicraft, sweets, bakery items, Saffron and other food items. He said the handicraft of the disabled children had also been put on display.
He said people had complained about high prices of products displayed at the fair. “Now, I have asked those managing the stalls to sell Iranian products even if they have to charge five per cent less than the manufacturing cost of the products.”
At one stall, he said, a workshop was conducted for teachers imparting education to the disabled children.
Besides international pavilions, different local tourism-related organization have displayed equipment used for hiking and camping. Stalls of the Small Industries Corporations of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are also attracting visitors, who can see the display of a variety of products.
Representatives from all four provinces have also set up their stalls to promote handicraft and other items of their areas.
For the interest of children, a play area has been set up. The children can also enjoy seeing magic toys at a stall and have an opportunity to paint at canvass provided by Iran.
Cultural troupes from Indonesia, Iran and the Philippines, besides renowned local singers as well as amateurs from schools, colleges and universities are enthralling youngsters at the cultural complex’s open-air stage. The cultural troupe of Iran is performing daily.
Also part of the festival is qawwali, educational institutions, schoolchildren and family nights. Tourism night will be held on Saturday (today) when Iranian cultural troupe and different local artists and groups will perform.
On the closing night on Sunday, the Cholistani night will be organized by presenting performances of music.
Sri Lanka tourism deputy minister Mr Mustafa, Iranian ambassador Ibrahim Tahir Yan and ambassadors of Indonesia and the Philippines attended the fair and different cultural performances.
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