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Steps to promote tourism in NWFP discussed

PESHAWAR: A meeting of federal and provincial tourism departments held here on Sunday has underlined the need to chalk out an integrated startegy and undertake coordinated steps for promoting tourism in NWFP.

Provincial Minister for Information, Tourism, Culture and Education, Syed Imtiaz Hussain Gillani, was in chair.

The meeting decided to request the Provincial C&W and Forest departments to surrender some of their rest houses to the Sarhad Tourism Corporation (STC) for tourism purposes. Similarly, it was also agreed to request the Provincial government to open some of the historic and prestigious buildings like Governor House for local and foreign tourists and general public.

The meeting, attended by the Managing Directors of Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, STC and other concerned officers, discussed in detail various ways and means for the development of tourism infrastructure and its promotion on sustainable footings.

Keeping in view the rich tourism potential in Kalam area, the meeting called for establishment of Kalam Development Authority (KDA) to help develop basic tourism infrastructure.

Expressing concern over heavy expenses charged by Pakistan Railways and a commercial tourism organisation in respect of Peshawar-Landikotal Safari Train Service, it was decided to take up the issue with the railway authorities and train's sponsoring operators and request them to reduce the charges and suggest to the Railways authorities to privatise the Safari Train on short term lease basis, if they were not able to meet operation expenditure.

The Provincial Minister also asked the STC to prepare a feasibility study for operating another tourist Safari train between Kohat and Tal for which a narrow track is already available.

Regarding security problems faced by tourists in Malakand and various tribal areas, the minister said that issue should be addressed by taking the elders of these areas into confidence.

The NWFP minister also expressed satisfaction over simplification of permission procedure for foreign tourists.

He also asked the STC to identity 15 to 20 rest houses wherein tourism centres could be opened at first stage on experimental basis. APP