Islamabad: The Institute of Regional Studies and Walnut Travel and Tour Consultancy (WTTC) jointly organized a round table discussion titled ‘Tourism for Peace Dialogue’ . Senator Mushahid Hussain, Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed, Mr. Augustine Christy Ruban, and Mr. Rai AurangZeb Bhatti participated in the dialogue, sharing their insights on enhancing Pakistan’s tourism landscape and promoting interfaith harmony.
Senator Mushahid Hussain, emphasized the transformative potential of spiritual tourism in Pakistan. He advocated for increased public-private partnerships, asserting that the government cannot manage tourism alone. He highlighted the Kartarpur Corridor as a vital hub for soft power and spiritual transformation, urging for its global promotion.
Ambassador Jauhar Saleem, President of IRS, stressed tourism’s significant impact on the global economy, contributing 10% to world GDP. He noted that countries like the US and France generate substantial revenue from tourism, while emerging economies such as Turkey, UAE, and Thailand surpass Pakistan’s total exports. He lamented that Pakistan, once a prominent tourist destination in the 1960s and 1970s, needs to revitalize ‘Brand Pakistan’ to attract tourism, trade, and investment.
Ms. Sadaf Khalid Khan, CEO of WTTC, called for a collaborative effort between public and private sectors to develop international-standard tourism infrastructure. She pointed out that, according to the 2023 UNWTO report, Pakistan has been recognized as one of the safest tourist destinations globally.
Vice Admiral Ahmed Saeed, President of the National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA), highlighted the untapped maritime tourism potential in Pakistan, noting that 80% of global tourism is maritime. He mentioned that NIMA has identified key areas for development and made policy recommendations to the Sindh and Balochistan governments, which are currently under review.
Mr. Augustine Christy Ruban, Deputy Ambassador of Sri Lanka, suggested that both countries could enhance Buddhist tourism by attracting visitors from Thailand, China, Korea, and Japan. He proposed creating a corridor similar to Kartarpur to promote religious tourism along Pakistan’s coastal areas.
Mr. Rai AurangZeb Bhatti, CEO of ‘The Trust Era,’ stressed the need to attract Sikh Yatris, numbering over 40 million globally. He pointed out that while Pakistan is home to 110 gurdwaras, most Sikhs are familiar only with Nankana Sahib and Kartarpur. He also suggested utilizing advanced technology and AI for establishing modern tourist facilitation centers. Additionally, Mr. Omair Khattak, General Manager of the Department of Tourism, KPK, noted that a lack of coordination between provinces has hindered cohesive tourism policy development. Mr. Ikram Fareed from Green Tourism shared plans to develop 100 resorts nationwide, with the first phase featuring 17 resorts set to open soon.
