World Tourism Day

September 27, 2019

Launched by PTDC and EyeBex Films
Managing Director PTDC, Syed Intikhab Alam Inaugurated the Launching Ceremony

    World Tourism Day (WTD) takes place each year on 27th September under the aegis of UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for highlighting its cultural, social, political, and economic values. This year’s World Tourism Day 2019 theme is “Tourism and Jobs: A better future for all” which emphasize the role of tourism in job creation, social inclusion and poverty alleviation all over the world. Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) celebrated the day with the World to mark importance of tourism. It included a seminar on Tourism and Jobs where tourism experts shared their views as well as recreational activities such as Rock Climbing Competition, a Cycling Rally & Walk, Tourism Gala at F9 Park and a City Bus tour of SOS village children in Islamabad to highlight importance of tourism and raise awareness about sustainable tourism in the country.
    The seminar took place at Postal College Auditorium, Islamabad which was attended by a large number of professionals from tourism sector, tour operators, travel agents, stakeholders and officers of public sector organizations connected with tourism promotion. Managing Director, PTDC Syed Intikhab Alam in his opening remarks highlighted the role of tourism in job creation as it holds 10% share of the total jobs in the global economy. He emphasized that the initiatives taken by the present government would help achieve the targets of creating more and more jobs especially for women and youth. Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam Khan in his remarks highlighted the importance of sustainable tourism to cope with the challenges of global warming and climate change. He said that tourism and environment had strong linkages and close coordination could raise supplement efforts of both in raising awareness about Eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. Mr. Sheikh Siddique, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Division said that Pakistan is bestowed will all product of tourism but could not be tapped properly. He touched upon policy and current initiative of the Government in revitalization of the sector.
    PTDC in collaboration with Islamabad Cycling Associations organized a cycling rally and awareness walk around Fatima Jinnah Park in which more than 500 participants, wearing beautifully designed World Tourism Day T-shirts and carrying flags of Pakistan and Kashmir, participated. A large number of local people along with their families witnessed the event and appreciated the efforts of PTDC to highlight the importance of sustainable tourism in Islamabad.
    Similarly, PTDC in collaboration with Pakistan Adventure Club also organized a rock climbing activity at Lake View Point in which more than 300 students from different schools of Islamabad actively participated. The participating students thanked the organizers for holding such healthy touristic activities in the federal capital. The events also included a day trip of SOS Village’s students to the different tourist points of Islamabad, Pakistan Monument, Lok Virsa, Faisal Mosque, Lake View Park and Dam-e-Koh. which was full of recreations and infotainment.