Tourism Year Destination Pakistan 2007 on Dec 15

[Neo]

Tourism Year Destination Pakistan 2007 on Dec 15

KARACHI: December 01, 2006: Destination Pakistan 2007, tourism year's inaugural ceremony and gala event with participation of local and foreign tour operators aimed at boosting tourism in all areas of the country will be held on December 15, 2006 at Convention Centre, Islamabad.

"We do not anticipate year 2007 would bring millions of foreign tourists to Pakistan but it will take a positive start," remarked Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar at news conference here on Thursday.

The year-long programmes include Lahore Marathon on January 14, Pakistan Tourism Fair January 15-21, Lahore, Sibi Mela February 4-5,, National Skiing Championship Feb 10-15, Malam Jabba, 3rd Cholistan Jeep Rally, March 8-10, Channan Pir Festival (Indus Guides) March 8-9, Mehrgarh Conference, Quetta March 15, Baisakhi, spiritual gathering of Sikhs (Hasan Abdal) April 11-14, Adventure, Extreme Sports, Deosai Plain, Northern Areas April 12-14.

Thar Desert Festival, Umerkot, Sindh, April 16, 18, Ghandhara Week March 26-31, Train Safari: Khewra Salt Mines April 24-26, Chitral & Kalash festival May 11-15, SAARC Tourism Mart, Karachi May 25-27, Golden Jubilee Celebrations of first ascent of broad peak (8047m) June 9, Pakistan broad peak golden jubilee expedition August 15-30, Shogran festival June 22-29, Hunza Festival & Touris Convention Aug 25-27, Shandur Polo festival (Chitral, Gilgit) July 7-9, Karakorum car rally July 10,15, Freedom jeep rally Gaddani Beach August 12-14.

International mountain marathon, Hunza September 1-13, International Mountain Bike Race, Kaghan Sept 7-9, Silk Route Festival (Northern Areas) Sept 1-6, Sufi festival at Sehwan Sharif Sept 3-6, International Mountain Tourism Conference, Islamabad Sept 10-11, Karakorum International Film festival Sept 10-12, Painted Truck Caravan Karachi to Khyber Sept 20-24, World Tourism Day celebrations, Peshawar Sept 27, Jashan-e-Sahil, Gwadar October 15-20, Journey through time: Sound & Light Show, Moenjadaro Oct 21-28.

International festival of performing arts, Lahore, November 21-27, World Buddhist Congress & Festival of Asian Arts, Crafts, Islamabad, Nov 24, Pakistan Cultural Train Safari, Peshawar to Karachi, December 1-20, Christmas celebrations, Lahore, Dec 24, Tourism Convention & Closing ceremony, Islamabad, Dec 30.

She said tourism marketing strategy has been finalised by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in co-operation with tour operators, agents and writers.

"We are promoting tourism in the country through public, private partnership and experimenting news ideas.

"We are also focussing on tourist attractive areas, providing necessary infrastructure, and promoting areas not seen earlier by tourists. All these measures, besides attracting foreign and local tourists would also create employment opportunities for all those connected with tourism industry," she added.

The minister urged national media to remove "negative image" of Pakistan being deliberately projected by Western press.

World Tourism Organisation would hold its meeting in Pakistan in April next, she said.

Replying to a question, she said under new government's policy, citizens of 24 countries are given visa on arrival in Pakistan. A cell has been set up in Interior Ministry to exclusively deal with foreign tourists visiting the country.

 

[Neo]

PIA urged to promote tourism

KARACHI: Federal Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar on Friday met Tariq Kirmani, Chairman Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), and invited the national flag carrier to attend launching ceremony of Visit Pakistan Year 2007.

She requested PIA to offer more discount to facilitate tourist activities in the country and discussed the details of Air Safari for guests of ceremony to be held in Islamabad on December 15.

Kirmani assured the minister of full facilities for Air Safari and said in view of larger number of guests, PIA will try to manage two flights for the purpose. He mentioned that the airline is already offering 25 per cent discount in peak season of December.

However, he assured of his full support to make the event a success and underlined that maximum should be considered by PIA for promoting tourism and attracting tourists.

He also agreed for using the Visit Pakistan 2007 logo on the material being distributed in PIA flights and on the tickets.

It was also mentioned during the meeting that in-flight magazine - Hamsafar - is also dedicated for promotion of tourism year.

 

[Neo]

'Efforts being made to put Pakistan on world tourism map'

ISLAMABAD (December 16 2006): Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar has said that there exists great tourism potential in the country and efforts are being made to utilise it. Talking to PTV she said, it is in this connection that year 2007 is being marked as 'Visit Pakistan Year'.

There are a lot of things in Pakistan which can attract large number of tourists from world across but due to lack of vision on part of past governments this sector could not flourish. Now the government has evolved a comprehensive marketing strategy under which country's tourism potential would be advertised in selected countries.

Efforts are being made to put Pakistan on world tourism map she said adding emphasis is being made on image building. A website has been created which would be connected with various airlines, hotels, tour operators, travel agencies etc to enable the tourists world across to have necessary information about Pakistan.

A calendar of events has also been evolved to inform the visitors about the events, which would, took place during the year in various parts of country, she said. She said the Interior Ministry has been asked to evolve special force to ensure security and protection of the foreign tourists.

 

[ali ahmad]

pakistan is one of the beautifull countries in the world and with eautifull culture...the only needis to build infrastructure and to promote torisim...

pakistan can generate a lot of money in this area..

 

[Neo]

PM gives Ministry of Tourism a target of attracting 1m foreign visitors in 2007
Sunday January 07, 2007

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has given the Ministry of Tourism a target to attract one million foreign visitors during 2007, which is the "visit Pakistan year."
Chairing a meeting at the PM's House Saturday to review the goals and targets of Ministry of Tourism, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry and Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan (TDCP) to make coordinated and concerted efforts to promote tourism by focusing on historic tourism, vast potential of religious tourism and natural beauty of Northern Areas.

The Prime Minister said that Pakistan has a rich heritage comprising the Indus and Gandhara civilizations and the Mughal period which should be carefully marketed to attract general as well as religious tourists in the country. Pakistan, he said, can become a destination of choice for tourists as it also offers plains, deserts, glaciers and peaks all rolled into one country.

The Prime Minister said that the government is determined to leverage country's vast potential of tourism and has made access to Pakistan easier by introducing a liberal visa policy.

The Prime Minister said that there is a need to tap into the potential of tourism as it generates economic activity, creates jobs and earns foreign exchange for the country. Tourism also helps improve the image of the country, as tourists are able to get first hand information about the country, the Prime Minister added.

The Minister for Tourism Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar in her presentation said the Ministry has prepared a detailed calendar of events to celebrate 2007 as the "Visit Pakistan Year". She said events will be held throughout Pakistan during the year to attract foreign tourists.

She said the Ministry is working on a plan to set up emergency and rescue centre at Skardu and mountain museum at a suitable place. She said the Ministry in coordination with ERRA is working on plans for revival of tourism in the earthquake-affected areas.

The Minister also apprised the Prime Minister of plans to celebrate Gandhara week as well as development of PTDC properties and their disinvestments.

http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.shtml?165157

 

[Contrarian]

Pakistani Tourism industry cannot achieve what it wants unless the perception about Pakistan is changed. The perception being that terrorism originates from Pakistan, and it does to a large extent. Unless Musharraf does not do something concrete about it, he cannot change this perception. There has to be substance for a thing to shine.
I myself would love to visit Pakistan, but i cant do so cuz people have advised me that my career could suffer because of it.

 

[Cheetah786]

Pakistani Tourism industry cannot achieve what it wants unless the perception about Pakistan is changed. The perception being that terrorism originates from Pakistan, and it does to a large extent. Unless Musharraf does not do something concrete about it, he cannot change this perception. There has to be substance for a thing to shine.
I myself would love to visit Pakistan, but i cant do so cuz people have advised me that my career could suffer because of it.

i agree with you.thats exactlay what i have been saying words means nothing till action is been taken you cannot convince people to visit.as most people take holidays to rest and enjoy no one in there right mind is going to think of enjoyment when they think of pakistan.
and pakistanies have no one but them selfs to blame.any thing happenes to any Arab they are out there in front of cameras protesting burning and chanting that creates a wonderfull image.Any politician or mullaha cant digest food till he or she call for strike for one reason or another excellent image.
osama and his firends hidding in pakistan asking for every body that dosent belive in there way of religion is to be killed excellent calling cards for the tourist to visit.there own Arab friends wont visit as we dont have naked white womans casinos and Alcohal freely Available in pakistan.iam sure Americans stand in line to get visa to see osama.last i herd europeans were breaking down pakistan embassy doors As they like the sport to be shot at by a lunatic mullah or be blown away by some suicide maniac.
First impression is the last impression.:wall:
but we do get over a million tourist from afghanistan every year they do bring in lots of goods from there country like herion ak47 so thats a bonuse.

 

[Contrarian]

Any politician or mullaha cant digest food till he or she call for strike for one reason or another excellent image.

Yeah, that happens a lot here too
But things are improving, politicians are also maturing, slowly though. You see that when we got independence and in the ensuing decades, there was a huge political scandal over such small things that barely mattered. If there was trade with a nation, politicians thought that it was the privelege of the other nation, that it was doing trade with India.

Slowly things have changed and matured, the politicians realise that they have to beg, plead, or threaten other nations to get the job done. There is no longer this tendency of utter satisfaction.
What is my personal view is that a fish in shallow water makes more sphashes. And as the nation's importance is growing, there is RELATIVELY a lesser amount of hue and cry. And i mean this only and only for India, as i have seen what has happened and what is happening.

Though with Mamata Bannerjee shouting at the top of her voice on all news outlets about the Singur acquisitions, i would emphasize the word RELATIVELY
How i wished for her to simply go in a coma while she was fasting.

 

[Bull]

Though with Mamata Bannerjee shouting at the top of her voice on all news outlets about the Singur acquisitions, i would emphasize the word RELATIVELY
How i wished for her to simply go in a coma while she was fasting.

I was happy that mamta did that.The bloody commies should know how difficult its to start a plant/operations if unrest is there.

Bloody hypocrytes!!!

 

[Bull]

By the way somebody pls send me a visit visa,let me also help mushraff with his destination pakistan campaign.:flag:

 

[Contrarian]

i so wish i could go to Pakistan. But if i go there, there will be trouble for me in the US

Maybe i should sneak over the LoC

 

[Neo]

Target sets to draw one million tourists to Pakistan in 2008

LAHORE (January 20 2007): Federal Tourism Minister Nelofar Bakhtiar has disclosed that for 2008 Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has set a target of drawing 1 million tourists to Pakistan for the Ministry of Tourism; at present on average 800,000 tourists visit the country every year.

She was speaking to newsmen at the Pakistan Tourism Fair on Friday. She further said that the PM announced Pakistan Visit 2007 under which various events were being organised. She averred that Lahore Marathon and Pakistan Tourism Fair 2007 were part of that series of events and were more to follow, such as Cholistan Rally and World Women Day in March. "Similar events would also be held in Sindh and NWFP," she added.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=519409&currPageNo=2&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

Pakistan is secure for visitors: Jakarta Post

JAKARTA (January 22 2007): An Indonesian journalist, who visited Pakistan from December 13 to 18 last, writes that he has come to believe that Pakistan is secure for visitors, the essential prerequisite for its all-out tourism campaign.

The Jakarta Post's Soeryo Winoto was among those tour operators and journalists the Pakistan government had invited from 40 countries to witness the launch of its ambitious programme, Visit Pakistan Year 2007.

When I told a friend I was going to Pakistan, he looked surprised, asking what I would gain from such a "risky" trip. He looked even more surprised when I told him I had been invited by the Pakistani Embassy here to witness the launching of Visit Pakistan Year 2007. "Is it really about tourism in Pakistan?" he asked.

Another friend said the kidnapping of foreigners remains rampant in Pakistan. "But you, having black hair, would have no problem," said a friend, a Dutch national with blond hair.

I started to wonder, how would the Pakistani authorities be able to attract international tourists while internal security is so out of hand I became very curious and a little worried in case my Dutch friend's teasing was true after all, he writes in Jakarta Post.

Despite my curiosity about how Visit Pakistan Year 2007 would pan out in Pakistan, Karachi airport looked like any other. I was able to breathe clean air at the airport where security guards were on alert, as at airports elsewhere.

I was relieved to find my friends' warnings about poor security were wide of the mark. At Islamabad Airport there was no sign of an insecure atmosphere. People seemed to have no constraint on their legitimate activities at the airport, and no visitors appeared concerned about their security.

I found locals were all friendly and Assalamualaikum became the divine greeting to almost everyone, who responded with Wuallaikum salam ..., or smiled.

Pakistan is very serious in selling its natural beauty. Its tourism programme for 2007 is a well-prepared large project that is designed ultimately to improve the standard of living of Pakistanis, journalist writes.

Inviting around 140 people from 40 countries to witness the launch of Visit Pakistan Year 2007 or Destination Pakistan 2007 is evidence of the country's seriousness in telling the world, "Pakistan is worth visiting".

Later on, I acknowledged that Pakistan's ambitious plan to attract as many world tourists as possible was not an impossible dream.

The country, more than 70 percent of whose population depend on agriculture, has a long way to go to become a world tourist destination.

To the surprise of many, religions other than Islam are also respected here in Pakistan. Christmas celebrations in Lahore are clearly marked on the official tourism campaign calendar of events.

The World Buddhist Congress scheduled for November this year is also proof of respect for other religions in Pakistan.

http://www.brecorder.com/index.php?id=520187&currPageNo=1&query=&search=&term=&supDate=

 

[Neo]

Thar Desert Festival to attract tourists from across the world

KARACHI: Federal Minister for Tourism, Nilofar Bakhtiar on Thursday, presided over a meeting which was held to discuss the forthcoming events - Thar Desert Festival and Cultural Programme at Umarkot Fort in Sindh - and to promote tourism in Pakistan and make the Visit Pakistan Year-2007 a success.

The meeting was attended by Sindh Minister for Tourism, Rauf Siddiqui, provincial secretary, tourism, Naib Nazims and other senior officials.

Thar Desert Festival will take place in the third week of February 2007 which will attract tourists from around the world. There will also be a grand sound and light show in Umarkot Fort, which will highlight the rich history and culture of the area, stated the minister.

The ministry is planning a grand show in the dunes and despite non-availability of basic necessities in the area the event will be a huge success.

The events will be a beginning to promote the neglected areas of the province where tourists will be provided "tent villages" facility to spend their memorable moment and see the culture they have never experienced before.

The provincial minister admitted the fact that organising mega events in the interior of Sindh is difficult as proper infrastructure is not available, but government is working on this. Several programmes are in the pipeline in order to develop and promote the rich cultural and heritage of Sindh.

Regarding Basant festival, the federal minister said that ministry does not intend to challenge the Supreme Court order and the Basant festival will be celebrated according to the terms and conditions set by the Supreme Court.

She mentioned the success of "Hamara Karachi" event and hailed the efforts of CDGK. She said that next year this event would be taken as the first event of the year.

Describing the Visit Pakistan Year ñ 2007, she said the tourism year has been divided into three events: Nature and Adventure, Culture and Heritage and Religious Tourism, which will include rafting, skiing, hiking, cultural festivities, and spiritual and Sufism festivals such as Baisakhi Mela, Gandhara Week and much more to celebrate. This will attract Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist tourists from across the globe.

She also mentioned the new visa policy according to which tourists in groups of at least ten from as many as 24 countries will be provided "visa on arrival" facility.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=40391

 

[Neo]

EU hotel chain coming to Pakistan

MULTAN: Ambassador of France to Pakistan, Regis de Belenet, said on Tuesday that a leading hotel business group in European Union, Accor, would invest in Pakistan to build ten to twelve hotels in partnership with other investors.

The French ambassador said this while addressing a ceremony at Multan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

Accor is a leading hotel group in EU and one of the leading in the world.

President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Mian Tanweer A. Sheikh, president MCCI Mian Anis A. Sheikh, noted industrialist and Chairman Nishtar hospital board of management Khawaja Jalaluddin Roomi and other businessmen and industrialists were present.

Mr. Regis de Belenet further said that another French company dealing in consumer products, CARREFOUR, would also invest to open its outlets in cities like Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad.

He said a French company that manufactures ‘Renault’ cars is also expected to invest in automobile sector, however, the matter was still under discussions and a final decision was yet to be taken in this regard.

He said France and Pakistan enjoy cordial relation ship and hoped that trade ties between the two countries would strengthen further with the passage of time. “We have possibilities to do better.”

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=41784