PESHAWAR: After a successful visit of Japanese tourists to Chitral, the Tourism Corporation Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (TCKP) has said that concerted efforts are being made to lure more international tourists to the province.

In a statement on Sunday, TCKP managing director Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said that after the recent tour of Japanese tourists to Broghul and other scenic spots in Chitral another group of tourists was coming to visit the serene valleys of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The TCKP and the Saiyah Travels arranged a 10-day tour for a nine-member group of the Japanese tourists to enjoy Broghul festival in Chitral. The tourists praised the steps taken for the restoration of peace and promotion of tourism in the province,” he said.

Mr Khan said that the Japanese tourists dispelled the so-called negative impression associated with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its people. He said that another group of tourists from Japan was arriving to visit the scenic sites in KP.

He said that TCKP would plan more such tours to attract the international tourists. He said that a team of nine-member Japanese tourists, headed by Chika Murata, visited the province last week. The tourists included five women and four men, who vowed to promote the Broghul and other scenic sites that they had visited with their friends and families.

The official said that Chika Murata had observed that they found the people fun-loving, hospitable and generous. The tourists flew from Tokyo to Islamabad and then travelled to Naran, Gupis, Mastuj, Lusht, Kishmanja, Paur village, salt mines and Chitral city, where they also set up camps and spent nights.

Last year, a Japanese team of tourists had visited Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to attend the Broghul festival, which was sponsored by TCKP.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2015

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