TAXILA, March 13: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director Sareer Mohammad Khan on Sunday said terrorism has damaged the tourism sector across the country, causing a loss of Rs550 billion.

“Unfortunately tourism has not experienced any considerable growth in Pakistan during the last few years due to terrorism, flash floods and 2005 earthquake,” the managing director told reporters.

He said the last year’s floods destroying bridges and roads have also contributed to decline in tourism in the country. He said 16 motels and hotels were damaged due to floods in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The managing director visited Taxila to review facilities for the tourists.

He said foreign exchange earnings from tourism have shown decline by 12 per cent in the current fiscal year. Mr Khan said only in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the tourism industry suffered about U$400 million losses in Swat only in the last eight years.

He said despite all these problems, the corporation was making plans and packages to promote tourism in the country. —Correspondent