ISLAMABAD: Significantly improved security situation has helped boostannual tourist arrivals in Pakistan by 300% since past few years, with 1.75million in 2017.

There has been a significant increase in the annual tourism rate andbusiness traveling in Pakistan. Domestic travelers have increased 30%,according to Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC).

Jovago, the top hotel booking and e-commerce website in Pakistan, claimedhotel bookings increased by 80-90% percent in 2017. According to thewebsite, over the past few years, Pakistan has seen a rapid increase in itstourism industry.

A lot of credit, for which, goes to the internet and publicity. It hasimmensely contributed towards the development and growth of the tourismindustry in Pakistan.

World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) puts the total contribution oftourism to Pakistan’s economy at $19.4 billion last year or 6.9 per cent ofgross domestic product. In a decade, the WTTC expects that to rise to $36.1billion.

Meanwhile, the government has been making efforts to promote tourism andmake PTDC a financially viable organisation, said Managing Director PTDC ChAbdul Ghafoor while talking to APP.

He said that PTDC and the University of Management and Technology (UMT)Lahore signed a MoU for the sponsorship of PTDC’s publicity materialincluding banners, website, seminars and conferences. Products and serviceof PTDC will also be promoted through social media.

PTDC has recently launched Pakistan Tourism Friends Club, in which membersof the club will get exclusive 20% discount on PTDC facilities. – APP