Muhammad Saleem

The Faisalabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FCCI) will assist tour operators in leveraging the country’s tourism potential for job creation and economic growth. Talking to WealthPK, President of the FCCI Rehan Naseem said that tourism was the fastest-growing sector in the world; however, Pakistan wasn’t able to make the most of it. He said that a large number of Sikhs and Buddhists come to Pakistan every year to visit their sacred places. “By providing them with the necessary facilities, we can increase the number of such visitors,” he said. “I am hopeful that the tourism sector can easily bring in $100 million annually if we take travel agents on board and frame policies by incorporating their suggestions.

The FCCI will help tour operators to bring this sector to the next level,” he added. Naseem noted that thousands of Sikhs from Eastern Punjab come daily for spiritual visitation (darshan) at Kartarpur Corridor. “We need to identify more religious sites to encourage visitors to come to Pakistan. This approach will ultimately help put tourism on the map.” He pointed out that an old gurdwara was located between Kutchery and Rail Bazaar, which was currently being used as a school. Similarly, he said scores of other sites were also located in various parts of the country, which needed renovation.

“After their repair, we can use these sacred pilgrimage sites to draw in their followers.” The FFCI president urged travel agents to identify such places so that policymakers could be approached for the beautification of these sites. Zafarullah, a tour operator, told WealthPK that tourism is an important segment of the national economy as it has tremendous potential to create jobs and fetch money. “The beauty of our areas is second to none. When tourists visit scenic attractions, they spend money on their stay, food and shopping.

This helps businesses grow and generate employment opportunities for locals,” he added. He said when a family visits a tourist spot for a weekend, they might eat at local restaurants, stay in a hotel and shop at nearby stores. “All of such spending supports our local and national economy,” he added. Zafarullah said Pakistan has numerous scenic spots that attract a large number of tourists, but tour operators faced challenges in arranging tours efficiently. He pointed out that the biggest issue impeding progress in tourism was the lack of proper infrastructure.

“Without constructing better roads and luxury but affordable hotels, we cannot effectively promote our tourism industry. To attract tourists, policymakers need to invest in improving the infrastructure,” the tour operator said. “We can establish multiple tourist spots in the country to boost the economy and create jobs,” he said, adding that international tourists were reluctant to visit Pakistan due to negative media coverage about security issues. “We have to counter the propaganda and clear the air regarding safety concerns. No one will prefer to visit an area perceived as unsafe due to fear of physical or financial harm,” he added.

Credit: INP-WealthPk