ISLAMABAD-UNS:
The Africa Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a conference on tourism for diplomats under the chairmanship of Additional Foreign Secretary for Africa Hamid Asghar Khan. The briefing was aimed at introducing the Pakistan Travel and Tourism Mart Expo, which will be held at Expo Center Karachi from January 31 to February 2, 2025.
The conference was attended by Deputy Chiefs of Missions of Morocco, Somalia, Kenya, Rwanda, Turkey, Malaysia,
Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, South Africa, Azerbaijan. Ambassadors and High Commissioners of African countries also participated in the conference. Additional Foreign Secretary for Africa Hamid Asghar Khan was praised for the initiative of organizing this conference on tourism. The ambassadors participating in the conference said that there are numerous opportunities for tourism in Pakistan, there is a need to improve infrastructure and activate air connectivity.
Tourism has become the world's largest industry. Nature has blessed Pakistan with attractive
tourist destinations consisting of high mountains as well as beautiful valleys, beaches and
deserts, and tourists from all over the world are visiting Pakistan. On this occasion, MD PTDC
Aftab-ur-Rehman Rana also gave a detailed briefing to the ambassadors about the tourism
sector. This is the first time that a large number of foreign ambassadors and diplomats
participated in this consultative conference on tourism through the efforts of Hamid Asghar Khan
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the invitation of Honorary Consul General of Ghana Omar
Shahid Butt Consul Generals of different countries attended the conference. Among the
participants were Consul General of Lithuania Masood Khan. Honorary Consul General of
Belarus Consul General Waleed Mushtaq, Consul General of Finland Asad Ansari were also
present. Professionals from the hospitality industry also attended the conference. This public
diplomacy was an initiative to connect with the people of Pakistan with the world and attract
tourists. On this occasion, Hamid Asghar Khan said that our effort is to connect the world with
Pakistan, after the Corona epidemic, it is the effort of developing countries around the world to
promote tourism. In the United States, tourists from all over the world spend $ 180 billion in a
year, while in France, tourism generates $ 80 billion every year. Similarly, Sri Lanka, Malaysia,
Tunisia have made remarkable progress in the tourism sector. Pakistan also has a lot of
potential for development in the tourism sector. We have the most beautiful beaches in the
world, mountains and we also have an ancient culture that can attract tourists. Along with this,
Pakistan has special importance in terms of religious tourism. There is a need to present these
factors to the world in a proper manner. Pakistan Travel Mart is Pakistan’s premier tourism
event, being held after a gap of four years after the Corona pandemic. Hopefully, it will be a
success. The conference participants agreed that security, infrastructure and a moderate social
culture are essential ingredients for tourism.
