PESHAWAR – A large number of visitors, tourists and investors thronged thestall of Tourism Corporation KhyberPakhtunkhwa (TCKP) at the tourism trade fair at Feria de Madrid, Spain, andshowed keen interest in the KP’s tourism potential.The TCKP team highlighted salient features of thecultural and tourist resorts through video documentaries, pictures,brochures and posters.The visitors were informed that 70 percent of tourist resorts werelocated in KP and the foreign tourists can now visit any place without anyrestriction and obtaining Non-Objection Certificate.The KP participation in fair encouraged the internationaltour operators to bring cultural and mountaineering expeditions to theprovince, which will highlight Pakistan as one of the best touristdestinationsfor international tourists.The TCKP officials provided information about the scenicplaces, tourism attractions, investment opportunities and facilities intourismindustry to the visitors, tourists and investors.During the five-day event, a number of foreign groups and associations,including jeep safari, trekking groups, motor-bikers and tour operatorsfrom Brazil and Spain evinced keeninterest in the tourist attractions and scenic sites and decided to come toKP.Delegates from various countries, including Sri Lankan envoy and Pakistan’sambassador in Spain Khayam Akbar visited the stall. They praised theorganisers for their efforts to promote tourism and soft image of thecountry.Setting up the stalls is to show the people that in KP thereis an immense growth and investment potential besides attracting largernumber of foreign tourists to Pakistan and to explore the most scenicprovinceinternationally.The official on this occasion said that the event is alsoa great occasion to tell the world that peace had been restored and thetourists can visit any place of their choice in the province. “Our provinceisa peaceful destination for foreigners and is blessed with exotic valleys andunique rich culture and tradition regardless of others,” the officialremarked.Malakand division was now a free zone area forinternational tourists as the province is blessed with rich tourism resorts,rivers, springs, green fields and mountains and other scenic spots.
The official said that the province has a unique and diverse culture inthe worldwhich needs to be highlighted and promoted internationally.The delegation at FITUR, Spain presented some projects ofinvestment for the promotion of sustainable tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwaincluding a number of long as well short term projects.The TCKP stall was set up by promotional items such asbrochures, travel guides about different tourist and cultural destinations,post cards, posters etc were distributed among visitors.Besides promoting soft image of Pakistan, particularlyKP, the participation in the tourism trade fair is in line with the visionof PrimeMinister Imran Khan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister for TourismMuhammad Atif Khan to arrange tourism activities and showcase tourismpotential andbeautiful places of the province at international level to attract foreigntourists to the province.FITUR, being one of the main events for the tourism industry worldwide andthe leading trade show, is already working on configuring a top-levelbusiness space, with the best tools, to allowprofessionals from the world of tourism to successfully confront thechallengesthe industry presents at this time.This event showcases products like tour operators, travelagencies, carrier companies, representatives of hotels and other formsoflodging facilities, leisure and culture contractors, residential tourismfirms, travel media representatives, government officials, representativesof tourism boards, members of trade associations and students of traininginstitutes etc in the railway, shipping, aviation, travel and tourismindustries.
