LAHORE: Punjab Tourism Department Secretary Ehsan Bhutta says Pakistan has been ranked 83rd in the 2021 edition of the Travel and Tourism Development Index that includes 117 countries, which is up from 89th place in the index’s previous edition of 2019.

Overall, Japan has occupied the top spot on the latest edition of the index, followed by the USA, Spain, France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Singapore and Italy, which have been ranked top 10, respectively.

Talking to Dawn, Mr Bhutta said the continuous efforts of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) bore fruit.

“When we look at Punjab, it is more of a cultural, heritage and religious circumference. The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) also has branded its name through Patriata Chairlift, sight-seeing buses, water sports at Khabeki and Uchali lakes, Cholistan and Thal jeep rallies, resorts and innovation of environment-friendly glamping pods, igloos and many other projects through team efforts and hard work.”

Mr Bhutta added that besides the contribution of its main wing, Archaeology Directorate, Department of Tourist Services (DTS), Museums, World Bank-sponsored Punjab Tourism Economic Growth Project, Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) in Punjab have all made it possible to raise the index of the country internationally in Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI).

As far as conservation and preservation of Heritage monuments were concerned, the Directorate of Archaeology successfully conserved Hiran Minar, Shalamar Gardens, tombs of Jehangir, Nur Jahan, Khan Bahadur Khan, Nadira Begum, Zebunnissa, Derawar Fort, Taxila Monuments, Harappa monuments, Rohtas Fort, Katas Raj Temple, Nandana, Malot and Taluja forts, Ali Akbar Shrine besides making new Museums in Gujrat, Multan, Gujranwala, said the secretary. The team also increased beauty through illumination of monuments at night and beautiful horticulture and floriculture work, he added.

Mr Bhutta said the services and working of the Department of Tourism after devolution to provinces also improved its working by registering 640 new hotels and restaurants in Punjab in the last 1.5 years whereas from 2011 to 2020 its number was meagre 115.

While appreciating the efforts of the department, he said that during his service as a commissioner Gujranwala, he had an insight into wonderful heritage places which needed attention there like Ranjit Singh’s Haveli & Baradari, Mahan Singh’s Samadhi, Baddoki Gossian, Jain Mandir, Lodhi era mosque in Eminabad, Wazirabad’s Sher Shah Suri Dak Chowki and Baoli, Kotli Mausoleum, Wandu, Tomb of Hassan Ali, Phalia, Losarwali Baoli, Kharian, Ram Pyari Museum in Gujrat, Iqbal Manzil in Sialkot and many other monuments.

“Out of these, four sites are under preservation by the Department of Archaeology and three have been proposed for inclusion in 2022-23 annual development plan (ADP).”

The secretary said the Evacuee Trust Property Board was being pursued to conserve its monuments like Ranjit Singh Haveli and Mahan Singh Samadhi and give Baddoki Gossian to the municipal corporation through signing a memorandum of understanding for conservation and developing a public park around it.

The addition of double-decker buses, conservation of monuments along with provision of public facilities like washrooms, benches, golf carts and heritage rickshaws also helped increase the number of tourists, Mr Bhutta said.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2022