Promoting domestic tourism in Gilgit, Baltistan and Chitral discussed at conference

Islamabad: Tourism Promotion Services (TPS) held a successful conference in collaboration with Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) at Islamabad Serena Hotel to discuss ways and means for promotion of domestic tourism in Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral.

It was decided during the gathering that PATO and Serena Hotels Pakistan will come together for the concept of Responsible Tourism, i.e. ”Creating better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit”. This will be achieved with a on marketing and communications aimed at building relationships with small and big tour operators, to promote the marketing efforts in the big cities of Pakistan. It was agreed that focus on selling will be a range of holiday experiences as the destination of Gilgit-Baltistan and Chitral (http://serenagilgitbaltistan.com/suggested-experiences/) to attract more and more Pakistanis for choosing to travel within Pakistan rather than abroad. The terrorism activities has fewer and fewer the international tourists choosing to travel in Pakistan as a result domestic tourists will need to fill this gap.

Pakistan’s ranking in leisure industry is 122 out of 140 countries and Asia Pacific is 24 out of 25 by World Economic Forum on Travel and Tourism Competitiveness during the year 2013.  The picture for tourism in Pakistan is mixed.  International tourism continues to decline as a result of the ongoing terrorism situation with most countries issuing negative travel advisories against travelling to Pakistan. However there appears to be an ever growing domestic tourism market with more and more Pakistani’s eager to explore their own country – a result of it becoming increasingly difficult to obtain visas to travel abroad since 9/11. 

Tourism Promotion Services is a division of The Aga Khan Development Network, the objective is to protect and promote the local culture and heritage in an environmentally sensitive manner. To achieve this TPS work closely with the local communities in which Serena Hotels located as well as working with the Aga Khan Development Network agencies ensuring that the Traveler / guests are provided with authentic experiences. From 800 year old Forts to 200 year old Royal Palaces, Serena Hotels Pakistan varied selection of accommodation and guest experiences will take the traveler on an unforgettable journey through the Northern part and Gilgit-Baltistan Pakistan.

Pakistan Association of Tour Operators (PATO) is a travel trade association established in 1990 to promote tourism to the highlands in the northern part of Pakistan. Now, PATO membership exceeds 80 large tour operators and several small scale tour agents and allied vendors, PATO members are well experienced professionals in tourism industry and represent the entire spectrum of vacation packages and tours available in Pakistan.

Pamir Times

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Pamir Times is the pioneering community news and views portal of Gilgit – Baltistan, Kohistan, Chitral and the surrounding mountain areas. It is a voluntary, not-for-profit, non-partisan and independent venture initiated by the youth.

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