Pakistan's untouched areas will be 'ruined' if tourism is not regulated: PM Khan

Published April 3, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the Pakistan Tourism Summit in Islamabad on Wednesday. — DawnNewsTV
Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the Pakistan Tourism Summit in Islamabad on Wednesday. — DawnNewsTV

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday reminded government ministers that Pakistan's "untouched" scenic sites will be ruined if tourism in the country is not regulated and appropriate laws are not implemented.

Addressing the Pakistan Tourism Summit in Islamabad, where several renowned foreign travel bloggers were in attendance, the premier said the fact that Pakistan is known for its hospitality globally is because the people here are welcoming to tourists.

A major reason a place is admired by tourists is because of its people, Khan added.

But he stressed the need for regulating tourism in the country, warning that areas on which people descend on to mint money off tourists "get ruined".

Read: Reviving Pakistan’s tourism

"Pakistan's beauty is that it is untouched," the prime minister said.

Khan said many tribal areas of the former Fata will attract a lot of visitors when they are opened for tourism. But when that is done, the prime minister added while addressing his task force on tourism, "I request you that you have to make people respect the local sensibilities and local culture."

He said if tourists disrespect the local customs of the tribal areas, the reaction that would follow would negatively impact tourism.

Citing personal travel experiences in Pakistan over the course of his life, the prime minister once again highlighted the tourism potential of the country, which he said was "unmatched" anywhere in the world.

"No other sector in Pakistan offers returns on investment as much as tourism," Khan told the audience.

The prime minister urged the "elite" class of Pakistan to visit the domestic tourist attractions instead of spending their summer vacations in England and other European countries.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Broken promises

Broken promises

Perhaps the biggest impediment to the successful mainstreaming of ex-Fata and its development has been the lack of funding.

Editorial

Wake-up call
09 Nov, 2024

Wake-up call

THE United Nations Human Rights Committee has sent a clear message to the government: it must work to bring the...
Foreign banks’ exit
09 Nov, 2024

Foreign banks’ exit

WHY are foreign banks leaving Pakistan? In the last couple of decades, we have seen a number of global banking...
Kurram protest
09 Nov, 2024

Kurram protest

FED up with the state’s apathy towards their plight, the people of Kurram tribal district took to the streets on...
IHK resolution
Updated 08 Nov, 2024

IHK resolution

If the BJP administration were to listen to Kashmiris, it could pave the way for the resumption of the political process in IHK.
Climate realities
08 Nov, 2024

Climate realities

THE Air Quality Index in Lahore once again shot past the 1,000-level mark on Wednesday morning, registering at an...
Rule by fear
08 Nov, 2024

Rule by fear

THE abduction of an opposition MNA, as claimed by PTI, is yet another grim episode in Pakistan’s ongoing crisis of...