Tourism sector can play essential role to boost economy: President Alvi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi has said that the promotion of tourist activities in rural areas could help in increasing the volume of the national economy and putting the country on the road to prosperity and development as Pakistan has limitless potential for tourism.

In a message, on the occasion of World Tourism Day, the President said, “The sector is not just a leading source of employment, particularly for different segments of rural society especially for youth and women but also provides opportunities for regional integration and socio-economic inclusion for the most remote areas,” the president said

He said that it was a matter of great pleasure that Pakistan was joining hands with the rest of the world to celebrate the Day.

The president said for a country like Pakistan where the majority of the population was still living in rural areas, tourism could have a significant contribution to socio-economic development. The rural communities of Pakistan offered a unique natural and cultural heritage.

“It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that the federal and provincial governments are taking collective measures for the development of tourist sites and promotion of tourism and all these efforts will contribute in transforming the tourism industry to become a major sector of the national economy in the near future,” he added.