MINGORA: Speakers at a ceremony here on Wednesday stressed the need for promoting cultural heritage tourism in Swat and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They were speaking at the opening ceremony of the training course on culture and heritage tour guides started by Pakistan Austrian Institute for Hotel Management (PAITHOM) in collaboration with Tourism Corporation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Archaeologists, culture activists, travel guides, tourism agents, writers and journalist attended the event.

The speakers highlighted the importance of cultural tourism and said that more than 40 per cent tourists in the world visited culture heritage sites.

Training course launched for tour guides

Hurmat Yab Khan, head of PAITHOM, said that the course, based on learning by doing, was designed for local guides owning to growing importance of culture heritage tourism.

“Youth including students of Swat University and members of the tourism association will be imparted training that has been designed according to guidelines of international tourism and local culture,” he said.

The speakers said that Swat was not only scenically beautiful but also had rich culture heritage where several civilisations nurtured.

“The pre-Buddhist, Buddhist, Hindu, Indo-Greek, Dardic archaeology in Swat has immense importance as not only Buddhist but also many other nations want to visit the area,” said Fazal Khaliq, a culture activist.

Zarawar Khan, a lecturer at archaeology department of Swat University, said that the archaeological sites in Swat were in good condition. “We are lucky that we have hundreds of intact archaeological sites in Swat which are not only sacred for Buddhist across the world but also important for researchers and historians,” he said.

Faizur Rehman, the curator of Swat museum, appreciated the effort and said that he would extend his cooperation in that regard.

Abdul Salam, the president of tours and travel operator association, said that government and civil society should play their role in promotion of tourism in Swat.

District nazim Mohammad Ali Shah said that there was need for promotion of culture heritage tourism in Swat.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017