TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN PAKISTAN
Thailand seen as industry role model

BOONSONG KOSITCHOTETHANA

Islamabad _ Pakistan, the impoverished South Asian country that has suffered from decades of internal political disputes and ongoing confrontation with neighbouring India, is looking at Thailand as a role model in promoting its tourism industry. The Islamic republic has begun to learn a trick or two from Thailand to build up its tourism industry, very much in the infant stage, as part of the new economic reforms of President Pervez Musharraf.

Speaking to a Thai delegation led by Somchainuk Engtrakul, vice-minister for the Office of the Prime Minister in Islamabad on Thursday, Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz specifically asked Thailand for help on how to promote its tourism industry.

``We can learn quite a lot from Thailand because the country has done so well from a tourism point of view,'' Tourism Minister G.G. Jamal told the Bangkok Post in a separate interview.

Under a plan already agreed on by the Thai government, Pakistan will send people for training in Thailand in different aspects of tourism, ranging from developing tour guides down to managing hotels.

Another initiative adopted is for tour operators from the two countries to hold a joint meeting to come up with ways to promote tourism between Pakistan and Thailand, said the minister.

Despite its extensive tourist attractions, including eco-adventure, heritage and cultural sites, Pakistan has not been well positioned on the global tourism map, primarily due to the lack of a state policy, insufficient promotion and limited tourism support infrastructure.

It has taken 50 years for Pakistan to put in place 10 five-star hotels with some 3,400 rooms in its four major cities _ Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar.

But under the new tourism drive that began in earnest last year, there will be another 10 new deluxe hotels with total rooms of around 4,600 coming onstream in the next few years in the major cities, according to a Khawaja Ghiasuddin, senior vice-president for the Akbha Group, one of Pakistan's major business groups.

Tourist arrivals in Pakistan have begun to show signs of growth in the past two years, rising from 200,000 in 2002 to 400,000 in 2003 and to 700,000 last year.

For 2005, Mr Jamal said Pakistan hoped the number of tourist arrivals would at least be equal to what was recorded last year.

But the impact of the Oct 8 earthquake that killed more than 73,000 people in northern Pakistan may threaten the target.

Dr Jamal said the plan to break the one-million tourist mark next year or in 2007 would depend on Pakistan's ability to rebuild the quake-hit northern areas, popular for trekking and mountaineering, a big revenue earner for the industry.



Pakistan also hopes to correct the heavy imbalance of tourism traffic between Pakistan and Thailand. Pakistan's outbound traffic to Thailand stood at about 50,000 last year while the number from Thailand was about 1,000.

Pakistani Prime Minister Aziz also pledged to open the country's skies, dominated by state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), to overseas carriers to support the national tourism drive.

The inauguration last week of Thai Airways International's third route in Pakistan _ Bangkok-Islamabad _ was part of the new policy.

THAI is the first Southeast Asian airline to operate into the capital of Pakistan. The airline has already been serving two other Pakistani cities from Bangkok _ Lahore and Karachi.

Of note, Mr Aziz told Mr Somchainuk, also acting president of THAI, that he had discussed with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong about the possibility of Singapore Airlines, THAI's arch-rival, offering flight services to Islamabad in the near future.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/07Nov2005_biz39.php

Thailand as role model Lo ker lu gul! Seems like our country is gonna be the next whore house on earth

I guess they have appointed a new pimp minister at the ministry

Its not that bad Paguma, except for the designated 'red light' areas ofcourse.

There are decent tourists who come here as well (not the ones looking for sex).

We can always put up Benazir for bids... for any willing tourist!

Since she’s been doing “it” to Pakistan for years… its only nice to return the favor… ain’t it?

dude atleast pakistan is taking an intiative we shud appreciate it yaar all of us know very well abt the preception of pakistan abroad we have to start form some where n also u dont want to know about the budget of pakistan tourisim development corporation cause if u do it will be a very big humilation for us

unfortunally tourism attracts. illegale activities. like drinking & Prostetution. pakistan dosent allow alchol to be drunked on the streets. and prostution is illegal but happens anyway. if we are to attracts western tourist from rich nations they will want to spend their money where these things a present.

an example prauge czech republic, it has been 15 years since the collaps of the eastern block but tourism has boosted sky rocket high. prostetion is all time high so much so that it will very soon be compeating with amsterdam.

but tourism will boost the economy so i vote to get the tourism industry built.

Salam
Drinking is allowed for nonmuslims so that shudnt be a problem.It depends on what kinda tourism and entertainment centres we want to promote.If ur going to make something along the lines of Las Vegas then ofcourse ull have those problems,but if u market to families looking for a vacation then things could be different.
BUT i dont see it working as long as we have security issues:(.Foreigners,especially westerners will always be at risk,and suppose investors do invest millions,one incident can mess it all up.There needs to be stability.
I dont think using force to subdue populations would be the answer,rather coming to an understanding with the local population on the issues,telling them about the prospects could be more helpful.For instance,now Kashmiris will needs lots of revenue to get back on their feet,we can suggest tourism as a livelihood for many,low interst loans for them and giving assurances of their concerns(cultural).That means all tourist wud have to follow SOME guideline abt dress code,or the tourist areas could be built on the outskirts of populated areas.

an example prauge czech republic, it has been 15 years since the collaps of the eastern block but tourism has boosted sky rocket high. prostetion is all time high so much so that it will very soon be compeating with amsterdam.

Haroon, Black panther has a valid point ... just name me any tourist attraction of present day without Prostitution / sex ! Dubai, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, !!! Tourist want, sex and security ... alcohol can be managed ! but without the above 2 things don't move.

I would say .. we should make a couple of Kish Islands in front of our mainland and than let even our own people enjoy the time .. in a short while we will start to have local support and infra structure for similar but limited activities .. With this export will increase ...

But of course we must stop if there and there .. and that is it should not spread ! ..

The problem is the whole idea is double edge .. the path is very narrow with minefield on both sides !

Must 7 you have a point about building those islands but. there are long stretches of beach from krachi to i dont know iran border maybe a settelment allong there. it will be like a deset with the sea front if idea put to test it couls compeat with Goa. maybe it could attract hippies. i have a lot of ideas about tourism but who would listen.