Pakistan will host Global Tourism Forum in 2021, says Bukhari

Islamabad, July 05 (Online Int’l): Chairman Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari has stated that Pakistan will host Global Tourism Forum in 2021.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Sunday, he said Pakistan will also be hosting tourism summit of D-8 countries in 2022.

He said government has formulated a policy of ten years to uplift tourism in Pakistan and it has also developed five years action plan. Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari said a national portal has been designed to promote tourism in the country.

Commenting on PTDC’s poor performance over the years, he said political intervention has devastated the organization. He said all initiatives have been taken to use the potential of PTDC. He said employees of PTDC have been offered a lucrative golden handshake.

Responding to a question, he categorically said that government is not privatizing Roosevelt Hotel in New York. He said that going forward PTDC’s motels will be handed over to the provinces along with a template for leasing them to the private sector for the next 30 years. “When you give a lease for three to five years, the investor doesn’t even bother to fix the washrooms, he has nothing to gain from it. “But when you give an extended lease and give a credible tender you will see that these 46 properties will become three, four star hotels in Pakistan.

Giving the example of Pearl Continental Hotel Bhurban, the PM’s aide said that the hotel, which is built on approximately 40 to 50 kanals, has 500 staff members. “They have 500 employees and we had around 360 for all of PTDC. Is this not an obstacle in the way of employing millions? Should we not employ millions because of these people?”

He reiterated that PTDC has not been closed down, but has been restructured in order to become an efficient organisation, adding that 70 young professionals will be hired to work on Pakistan’s branding, marketing and facilitation after coordinating with the provinces.

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