GILGIT: The World Tourism Day passed went unnoticed in Gilgit-Baltistan as no event was oragnised in the region to mark the day.

The Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (Pato) and other people associated with tourism industry criticised the authorities for ignoring such an important day. They said that Gilgit-Baltistan had the most attractive tourist spots but not a single event was organised in the region to mark tourism day.

Pato joint secretary Mohammad Ali told Dawn that the country had potential to generate billions of dollars annually by promoting tourism. He said that promotion of tourism could create job opportunities besides building a soft image of the country.

Mr Ali said that it was need of the hour to create awareness among people about the importance of tourism day and motivate people to work promotion of tourism.

Shakeel Ahmed, a tour operator, said that seminars, conferences, shows and various activities were being organised across the world in connection with tourism day but it seemed that the day had no importance in Gilgit-BaltistanNaiknam Karim, another tour operator and former general secretary of Pato, said that Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised before coming into power to take steps for promotion of tourism in the country. He said that PTI included promotion of tourism in its election manifesto.

“We hoped that tourism day would be celebrated with more enthusiasm this year, but unfortunately it didn’t happen,” he said. He said that about 70 per cent people in Gilgit-Baltistan depended on tourism industry for their livelihood.

He said that government should take steps for promotion of tourism to boost local economy.

Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2018