Saturday, April 21, 2007
Pakistan attractive tourist destination: Nilofar
NEW DELHI: Pakistan has become a tourist destination due to initiatives taken by the government, said Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar on Friday.
She was speaking at inaugural ceremony of South Asia Travel & Tourism Exhibition (SATTE -2007) on Friday in New Delhi. Pakistan set up big stall where stakeholders from Pakistan are showcasing tourism potential.
She said Pakistan had great attraction for group tours, religious and cultural tours as it had rich heritage including old mosques, Gandhara art and culture, relics at Taxila, shrines and ancient buildings.
âWe desire to expand relations with India and other South Asian nations in tourism by liberalizing visa regime. Expansion in this field could create peace and harmony in the region,â she said.
She felt there was strong need to build up bridges among South Asian nations so that goals of economic development were achieved. âWe are participating in the fair for this purpose and it would work for achieving common goals of progress, prosperity and peace.'â
Indian Minister for Tourism & Culture Ms Ambika Soni fairs of such nature could bring people closer to each other. South Asia had so much for tourists and tourism has trickle-down effects on economy.
Ms Soni visited Pakistan stall and showed keen interest in exhibits. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Pakistan High Commissioner Shahid Malik & Managing Director Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Salman Javed welcomed her.
A number of visitors also evinced keen interest in Pakistani products and packages offered by tour operators. A stage drama Anarkali was presented by Pakistani cultural troupe. ppi
Iftikhar Gilani adds from New Delhi: South Asia Tour and Travel Exhibition (SATTE) began here Thursday evening, with Pakistan Tourism Minister Nilofar Bakhtiar, hosting the inaugural dinner for the attending buyers and sellers. Pakistan, which is a partner country at SATTE-2007, has taken an impressive country pavilion at the exhibition. Along with private sector the PIA and the PTDC have also set up their stalls at the pavilion.
Earlier during the day, Pakistan Minister called on her Indian counterpart Ambika Soni at her office here for a meeting that lasted for over 40 minutes. "She was very forthcoming, very warm," Soni told reporters after the meeting.
The Pakistani minister has been in the eye of a storm after a fatwa was issued against her earlier this month for hugging her para-jumping instructor in France. Bakhtiar brushed away the edict, saying it neither worried her nor did she fear for her life. Reports say the fatwa was withdrawn after Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf personally intervened.
Ambika Soni stated that there was vast potential to promote tourism between India and Pakistan. "I saw an overwhelming desire from people to visit India as tourists in Pakistan, when I visited there last year to release film Mughl-e-Azam," she said.
She said both countries were considering liberalising visa regimes to boost tourism and to increase quota for religious pilgrimage. She said the composite dialogue between the two countries would go a long way in boosting the ties and people to people contact between India and Pakistan. Both the leaders felt that there is a tremendous tourism potential in both the countries, which should be tapped.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007\04\21\story_21-4-2007_pg5_17
