ISLAMABAD: The efforts of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), especially on religious tourism,have resulted in an upturn in the country’s tourism industry said PTDC Managing Director (MD) Abdul Ghafoor.
He said the organisation was concentrating on attracting tourists from Buddhist countries, as well as Sikh and Hindu people from across the world. He noted that focus on religious tourism could promote a softer image of the country, as well as generating economic activity.
Ghafoor said Pakistan had some of the best archaeological and historical sites in the world, highlighting areas from the Indus Valley civilisation at Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.
He added that remnants of Buddhist civilisations at Taxila, Swat and Takht Bhai were of great interest and a source of attraction for tourists from Japan, Korea, Thailand and other countries.
He also mentioned the important prehistoric sites situated in the Potohar region.
The MD remarked that Pakistan had immense tourism potential as its rich and diverse culture was quite attractive for foreign tourists.
He mentioned that festivals like the Shandoor polo festival, Sibi mela, Besakhi and Urs at Shabaz Qalandar attract thousands of domestic as well as foreign tourists.