China, a land of ancient traditions and modern marvels has long been a fascination for travelers: Wasi

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Tourism Syed Wasi Shah has said that Pakistan and China Year of Tourism celebrations 2023 would pave the way to further enhance the journey to promote the country’s tourism industry.

Addressing a ceremony of Pakistan and China Year of Tourism-2023 organized by Pakistan-China friendship association of Khyber in collaboration with Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), the minister said the friendship of Pakistan with the brotherly nation of China was stronger than mountains, deeper than oceans and sweeter than honey, whereas Pakistan welcomed its Chinese friends to invest with open arms in the country.

The organiser of the event and Secretary General of Pak-China Friendship Association – KP Chapter, Syed Ali Nawaz Gillani thanked the honourable guests. State Minister Wasi Shah said that China, a land of ancient traditions and modern marvels has long been a fascination for travelers around the world. “With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, in recent years, Chinese citizens have demonstrated an increasing appetite for travel, both domestically and abroad,” he added. He apprised the participants that before the global pandemic, China’s outbound tourists spent more than 255 billion dollars on tourism.

It showed the enthusiasm of the Chinese people for exploring the world. In connection to Pak China Year of Tourism, PTDC had organized several webinars to connect the tour operators of China and Pakistan to enhance B2B linkages. A training seminar on Tourism promotion for developing countries was also being held in Beijing China from 22nd August to 11th September, 2023 in which two officers from PTDC and one from Tourism Department of Gilgit Baltistan were participating, he added. He said, “We have also developed our publications on Pakistan and Buddhist Heritage Trail in Chinese language for the promotion of bilateral tourism.

They are now available in printed form and also as e-publications on our website. We are also closely working with our Embassy in Beijing and they are doing their best to promote tourism in China.” Chinese Tourists can also now apply for tourist visa online via our E-portal for visa, he maintained. The minister said that it was his immense pleasure to announce that in November 2023, PTDC is also sending a delegation of tour operators to participate in China Outbound Travel and Tourism Mart in Beijing. “It will be greatly helpful to build B2B linkages between the tour operators of both the countries and as result tourist traffic between the two countries will further increase,” he added.

However, he said that numerous opportunities were expected to emerge significantly in the next decades due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other business ventures. The event was attended by Senior Anchor Person, Journalist and Analyst Mr. Saleem Safi, Member Federal Public Service Commission of Pakistan Mr. Akbar Durrani , Federal Secretary Religious Affairs Dr. Aftab Akbar Durrani, Director MOFA Mr. Bilal Shah, General Secretary Pak China Friendship Association Punjab Mr. Usman Shahjehan, Mr. Mehmood Ahmad Khan ABID, Vice President CPNE KhyberPakhtunkhwa Mr. Tahir Farooq & President Khyber Union of Journalist Peshawar Mr. Nasir Hussain. Senior Journalist and Analyst Saleem Safi while speaking on the occasion said that Pakistan-China friendship was exemplary and time-tested as CPEC was a gift of our brotherly country China. Pakistan was trying its best to ensure peaceful environment at tourist sites to attract foreign tourists, he added.

Cultural Consular China Zheng Heqing thanked Pakistan for celebrating Pakistan and China Year of Tourism-2023 that would pave the way to promote bilateral tourism between two nations. China is showing keen interest in investing in Pakistan’s tourism industry, he added.