A.Rahman
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Pakistan considers relaxing visa facility for Chinese tourists
BEIJING, June 22 (APP): Pakistan will announce a comprehensive plan within next couples of weeks, to attract tourists from friendly countries, including China, Japan and Korea. This was stated by Federal Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar, while talking to newsmen at a three-day international exhibition opened here Thursday.
A special stall has been step up at the exhibition to promote Pakistan's rich potential in the tourism sector. It was jointly organized by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, PIA and Pakistan Embassy in Beijing. Six leading Pakistani tour operators are also attending the exhibition.
Those who visited the exhibition included Syed Sher Jan Baloch, Tourism Minister Balochistan and Pakistan ambassador Salman Bashir.
Nilofar Bakhtiar said the proposed plan has already been submitted to the Prime Minister for his approval. It envisages short and long-term strategy to attract foreign tourists. In the first phase, about 12 countries will be targeted for inviting tourists, by giving them special tour package. It will include provision of 30-days visa on their arrival at the airport.
She said, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz attached special importance promoting 'people-to-people' with China, through tourism. He told APP in an interview that agreement has been arrived at between Pakistani and Chinese tour operators for attracting tourists from their respective countries. The Chinese government has already granted Pakistan an Authorized Destination Status (ADS).
The Minister who was here on six-day visit to China, was scheduled to hold a meeting with Chinese tour operators on Friday to seek their proposals developing bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.
The government, she added has already declared 2007- visit Pakistan year; during which special events will arranged on monthly basis to project the country's tourism industry.
According to the officials of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the two countries have already exchanged lists of approved tour operators and travelling agencies. This was aimed at helping the tour operators to arrange tour groups to each other country for strengthening the tourism industry.
The sources said Pakistan could be the most attractive place for the Chinese tourists, if the departments concerned offer special group-tour packages, reducing airfare, relaxing visa facility and arranging a reasonable accommodation. There is also need to promote awareness among the
Chinese people about Pakistan's special tourism features.
The travel agencies and tour operators of the two countries need to coordinate in preparing tour packages facilitating their tourists, said a senior official of the Travel Service Group of China (CTS).
The Chinese government laid special emphasis consolidating relations with the regional countries through tourism. The government has already allowed joint venture with foreign travel agencies. In the recent years, there has been rapid growth of Chinese tourists, as record 18.3 million Chinese went abroad last year, spending over $20 billion.
http://www.app.com.pk/n48.htm
BEIJING, June 22 (APP): Pakistan will announce a comprehensive plan within next couples of weeks, to attract tourists from friendly countries, including China, Japan and Korea. This was stated by Federal Minister for Tourism Nilofar Bakhtiar, while talking to newsmen at a three-day international exhibition opened here Thursday.
A special stall has been step up at the exhibition to promote Pakistan's rich potential in the tourism sector. It was jointly organized by Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, PIA and Pakistan Embassy in Beijing. Six leading Pakistani tour operators are also attending the exhibition.
Those who visited the exhibition included Syed Sher Jan Baloch, Tourism Minister Balochistan and Pakistan ambassador Salman Bashir.
Nilofar Bakhtiar said the proposed plan has already been submitted to the Prime Minister for his approval. It envisages short and long-term strategy to attract foreign tourists. In the first phase, about 12 countries will be targeted for inviting tourists, by giving them special tour package. It will include provision of 30-days visa on their arrival at the airport.
She said, President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz attached special importance promoting 'people-to-people' with China, through tourism. He told APP in an interview that agreement has been arrived at between Pakistani and Chinese tour operators for attracting tourists from their respective countries. The Chinese government has already granted Pakistan an Authorized Destination Status (ADS).
The Minister who was here on six-day visit to China, was scheduled to hold a meeting with Chinese tour operators on Friday to seek their proposals developing bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector.
The government, she added has already declared 2007- visit Pakistan year; during which special events will arranged on monthly basis to project the country's tourism industry.
According to the officials of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), the two countries have already exchanged lists of approved tour operators and travelling agencies. This was aimed at helping the tour operators to arrange tour groups to each other country for strengthening the tourism industry.
The sources said Pakistan could be the most attractive place for the Chinese tourists, if the departments concerned offer special group-tour packages, reducing airfare, relaxing visa facility and arranging a reasonable accommodation. There is also need to promote awareness among the
Chinese people about Pakistan's special tourism features.
The travel agencies and tour operators of the two countries need to coordinate in preparing tour packages facilitating their tourists, said a senior official of the Travel Service Group of China (CTS).
The Chinese government laid special emphasis consolidating relations with the regional countries through tourism. The government has already allowed joint venture with foreign travel agencies. In the recent years, there has been rapid growth of Chinese tourists, as record 18.3 million Chinese went abroad last year, spending over $20 billion.
http://www.app.com.pk/n48.htm
