September 03, 2007	Monday	Sha'aban 20, 1428

ISLAMABAD, Sept 2: Pakistan with great cultural heritage and natural beauty has huge potential to attract international tourists.

This was stated by a Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) official while briefing a visiting group of 20 British trekkers here on Sunday.

The group, which helps deaf and blind people around the world, is scheduled to trek K-2 base-camp, which is one of the most strenuous but rewarding route in the world. They will also walk on the Baltoro glacier, one of the longest in world, for 12 days.

The group will return to Islamabad on Sept 14, after completing the track and will go back to the UK on Sept 16.

An exclusive dinner at Daman-i-Koh, with soft local live music programme, was hosted in their honour by a tour operating company. Managing Director of Panoramic Pakistan Salman Javed was the guest of honour on the occasion.

Mr Javed briefed the participants about the salient features of Pakistan’s tourism marketing strategy.

He said Pakistan, having a great

cultural heritage and natural beauty, had a huge potential to attract tourists from all over the world. “Tourism is a very important tool for any state nation to be known as a welcoming country,” he said.

There were misperceptions abroad, about Pakistan, whereas the country “is friendly, its people are hospitable, and its different regions offer natural, historic, religious and business tourism”.

“Visa policy for tourists has been liberalised. Tourism is a great unifier, it sends message of peace and harmony across borders and civilisations, and promotes understanding of each other’s culture, values, likes and dislikes,” he added.

PTDC presented the British group members exclusive gifts of traditional Ajrak.

Members of the group appreciated the natural beauty of Pakistan and the attitude of local people, specially the hospitality, which they had enjoyed. They termed Islamabad a clean, green, open and picturesque city.