Initiatives for Cultural Diplomacy, Tourism by Pakistan Prime Minister

• Initiatives for boosting tourism: ‘e-Portal’ of ‘Salam Pakistan’, Gandhara Symposium 2023

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday launched a new initiative ‘e-Portal’, an online platform of brand ‘Salam Pakistan’ to promote tourism which contributes 3 percent to GDP, and has generated 3.6 million jobs in the country.

• ‘e-Portal’ of ‘Salam Pakistan’,

This online platform contains information about the top 20 tourist destinations of Pakistan including K2, Gwadar, Ziarat Valley, Uch Sharif, Deosai National Park, Kalash Valley, Takht Bhai, Hingol National Park, Shandur Pass, Kambhar Lake, Fairy Meadows, Ratti Gali, Lahore Fort, Makli Graveyard, Derawar Fort, Rohtas Fort, Kumrat Valley, Hunza Valley and Mohenjo-Daro.

The online platform will help to guide the tourists about the beaches and waterfalls, nature and landscape, festivals, spiritual tourism, and eco-tourism locations and destination across Pakistan.

Experts believe Pakistan’s natural scenic beauty and cultural heritage can be turned into a great economic opportunity.

• Tourism Market

According some estimates, Pakistan’s domestic tourism industry is estimated at 50 million tourists who travel in the country on short trips usually between May and August. While Pakistan’s tourism and hotel market was valued nearly at USD 20 Billion in 2020, and the market is expected to witness a CAGR of 3% by 2026.

• Attracting Investment in Tourism

Speaking on the launching ceremony of online platform for tourists, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited brotherly and friendly countries, excelling in tourism for investment, by saying: “We will encourage our brotherly countries and the countries, which have excelled in the field of tourism, culture, handcraft and other fields, to come to Pakistan and highlight this diversity of tourism sector”.

The officials of the tourism authorities believe this online platform would help project Pakistan’s diversity in tourism at international level and increase tourists’ interest from across the world in the sector.

• Initiative #2 : Cultural Diplomacy by PM’s Task Force on Gandhara Tourism

Earlier, Prime Minister also launched Task Force on Gandhara Tourism and Ramesh Kumar Vankwani was given the task to promote the heritage tourism.

This Task Force on Gandhara Tourism organized launched numerous interesting programs, like “Cultural Diplomacy Symposium 2023” which attracted diplomats, religious tourists, monks and inter-faith experts, from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Vietnam to explore Pakistan’s rich Buddhist legacy and historic Buddhist relics.

The “cultural diplomacy” initiative helped to foster understanding and promotion of Pakistan’s heritage.

Besides natural Beauty, scene spots, and adventurous locations, Pakistan also offers the world a valuable window to Gandhara civilization with its unique blend of ancient history and culture.

• Cultural diplomacy to promote dialogue among civilizations

“In today’s world where hatred is on the rise and increasing polarization is fueling conflicts, it’s time to rediscover the role of cultural diplomacy to promote dialogue among civilizations,” Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi said in his address here at the three-day Gandhara Symposium 2023.

Experts of tourism industry believe these new initiatives of prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would help; to raise global awareness about the historical and cultural heritage in Pakistan, and to reinforce cultural diplomacy efforts, and to help promote tourism sector of Pakistan, and also provide a platform for dialogue among civilizations.

By: M.A

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