ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Managing Director (MD) Abdul Ghafoor, on Sunday, said that Pakistan and China’s joint cultural caravan will boost cultural tourism on China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) route.
Highlighting, the importance of the caravan in exploring the cultural diversity of the two friendly countries, he said that the game-changer CPEC will not only unleash economic benefits but also help discover and foster the cultural heritage which the ancient Silk Route has preserved for centuries.
He said programmes like CPEC Cultural Caravan should be held more frequently as art has no religion or language and it has the power to bring together people from diverse backgrounds.
Cultural tourism allows travellers to be immersed in local rituals and routines, taking away not only pretty photos but also shared memories of unique experiences, said the PTDC MD.
“It also encourages local communities to embrace their culture and boost their economic growth. Developing culturally geared tourism programs encourages local destinations to celebrate and promote what distinguishes their communities and in doing so, provides the opportunity for authentic cultural exchange between locals and visitors,” he further commented.
There is a general perception that cultural tourism is ’good’ tourism that attracts high spending visitors and does little damage to the environment or local culture while contributing a great deal to the economy and support of culture, he concluded.
