RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) on Wednesday said the tourist visa policy should be relaxed in order to promote tourism in the country.

“The visa policy should be relaxed, especially for religious tourists,” said PTDC Managing Director Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor during a press conference.

He said the PTDC is taking a number of steps for the promotion of religious tourist sites in the country and has also renovated all PTDC hotels.

“Our priority is to provide high-quality residential facilities to Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh pilgrims at their holy places in Pakistan,” he said.

“Religious tourism will always continue. Our first priority is domestic tourism, followed by overseas Pakistanis visiting the country and we will also offer special packages to foreigners coming to Pakistan,” he said.

Mr Ghafoor explained that the PTDC has divided the field of tourism into various sectors including religious, economic, agriculture, sports, culture and medical tourism so it is easier to promote the various sectors separately.

He stressed on the need for promoting tourist attractions in the country on a global scale.

“Tourism activities in the country are gaining momentum and more foreigners are also coming here now. We want Pakistan to be seen as a peaceful and tourist friendly country around the world,” he said.

He added that a conference of World Tourism Organisation will be held in Islamabad in January next year in which delegates from Asia Pacific regions will participate and that the conference itself will also improve the image of the country.

He said several steps are being taken for the development of the tourism industry including a special tourist satellite TV channel, city tour bus services, improving PTDC services, tourism publications and infrastructure development as well as facilitating investment in the sector.

He said a national tourism strategy workshop was conducted recently and that a comprehensive strategy will soon be adopted on the national level.

He said he hoped the government will release funds soon to improve the PTDC’s condition.

Published in Dawn, December 21st, 2017