20000410

Private sector

help sought

to promote tourism

PESHAWAR: Provincial Minister for Tourism and Information Imtiaz Hussain Gilani has said that the province is bestowed with natural beauty in abundance which needed to be fully tapped by promoting the tourism sector to its optimum level.

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of Hotel Thames at scenic spot Fizzagat in Mingora, Swat on Sunday.

He said the government would make all out efforts to develop its tourism sector on sound footings which would also help generate foreign exchange for the country.

Gilani said, the government is actively considering all aspects of tourism development. Improvement of communication infrastructure, development of forests and improving law and order situation are the top priorities of the tourism policy, he said. The new tourism policy would be finalised shortly, he disclosed.

He asked the private sector to come forward and support the government in its efforts of tourism development.

Earlier, President of Hotel Association Swat presented welcome address and highlighted the problems facing the association.ÑAPP