ISLAMABAD: An international conference on sustainable tourism will be organised every year in Pakistan so that strategies can be formulated for protection of the ecosystem in consultation with representatives from Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) states.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) and Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) in this regard. The agreement to hold the International Sustainable Tourism Forum was signed by ICCIA Secretary General Yousef Hasan Khalawi and PTDC Managing Director Aftabur Rehman Rana.
In view of the significance of the said forum, which would strengthen the status of Pakistan, as a major global hub for sustainable tourism, ICCIA and PTDC, saw an opportunity for Pakistan to organise it on a regular basis for the benefit of public and private sectors of Pakistan and stimulate investment in new infrastructure. A statement issued here said both parties have agreed to utilise their resources to make timely and effective arrangements, which would contribute towards successful organisation of the said forum.
A joint organising committee would be formed to manage all activities of the forum. The committee would be co-headed by the ICCIA and PTDC and would consist of members from both sides; the committee would suggest an appropriate theme for the forum, date, venue, panellists, speakers and workshop experts, as well as visibility and media communication.
The objective of the creating the forum is to position Pakistan as the capital of sustainable tourism in OIC member states and the rest of the world and to highlight abundant investment opportunities in the tourism sector of OIC member states.
Another reason for creation of the forum is to build a permanent mechanism to promote investment opportunities in sustainable tourism in Pakistan and the OIC.
Foreign participants, exhibitors and investors from top OIC countries such as Kingdom of…