WTO to send team for assessment of damages in tourism industry: Jamal

ISLAMABAD—Federal Minister for Tourism, Dr. G. G. Jamal has said that World Tourism Organization (WTO) would sent a technical team this month in order to make assessment of damages to the tourism industry caused by earthquake and suggest measures for the revival of tourism on modern way in the affected areas.
The minister said that Pakistan has been elected Chairman for the South Asia of the World Tourism Organization for four year term which will further improve tourism industry in Pakistan, says a statement issued here Sunday.
He said that foreign tourist showed upward growth during the period of January-June 2005 as compared to corresponding period last year. He said that that Pakistan received 0.362 million foreign tourists, as compared to 0.311 million in 2004, reflecting a strong growth of 16.7 percent. He said that the largest number of tourists came from Europe and followed by the US. Arrival of tourists from Pacific, East Asia and Middle East has also increased in the 2005, he added.
He further said that the increase in foreign tourist arrivals in Pakistan is due to promotional measures taken by the government like royalty fee for mountaineering expeditions was reduced by 50 percent and celebration of Golden Jubilee of K-2 Mountain. Celebrating of 81st anniversary of Nanga Parbat in 2004 and Ghandhara week civilization from 28th March to 3 April are some of the steps which helped in enhancing the tourism image of Pakistan in the foreign markets, he said. The minister said that measures had also been taken to establish skill development enters in the earthquake hit areas for the development of human resources in the field of hospitality.—INP