June 02, 2007	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 16, 1428

ISLAMABAD, June 1: Japan is considering to review and soften travel advisory for its citizens intending to visit the Northern Areas. This was stated by Japanese Ambassador Seiji Kojima while talking to Salman Javed, the managing director of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), here on Friday.

The ambassador said Northern Areas, the Silk route and Gandhara were the prime attractions for Japanese tourists. He said these areas remained peaceful during the previous year, therefore, his government was reviewing the current travel advisory.

According to a press release issued by the Japanese embassy, the ambassador suggested that the PTDC and Pakistani tour operators should highlight this peaceful situation to their Japanese counterparts through websites and emails. He said the Japanese senior citizens, adventure-loving youngsters and cultural enthusiasts should be attracted through a vigorous marketing campaign by Pakistani tourism organisations.

He said regular participation of Pakistani tour operators in JATA world travel fair in Tokyo under the umbrella of PTDC was bringing a positive result in terms of tourist arrivals from Japan.