KP Culture and Tourism Authority has approved the creation of eight new ‘eco-friendly’ tourist zones to promote tourism in the province.
According to the report, the recreation sites were approved by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan. The development of the new zones is being done under the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Integrated Tourism Development Project in collaboration with the World Bank (WB).
The eight locations identified for Integrated Eco-Friendly Tourism Zones include Kalash Valley in Lower Chitral, Shahi and Bin Shahi in Lower Dir, Jarogudra in Swat, Marggoz Dak Sar, Elm and Mahabanrr in Buner and Sereen and Munawar valley in Mansehra.
Read more: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa govt to develop picnic places near dams
The decision to develop more tourist zones was made in order to reduce the load on heavily visited tourist destinations besides boosting tourism in general, said KP Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) Managing Director (MD) Kamran Afridi. He added, “The zone will also provide employment opportunities to thousands of people locally.”
Afridi later revealed that international level consultancy firms will present complete reports on selected zones by June 21 of next year. The government will advertise tourism projects from there on out. He said that the site of the new tourist zones would be equipped with a communication system, investment plan, hotel, rest houses, golf course, chairlift, and parks.
After the master plans are finalized, the tourist zones will be presented to the provincial government before looping in the International Tourism Expo to attract foreign tourists and investments. Also, all tourist zones will provide new opportunities for locals, and boost the fledgling employment rate.
As the provincial government is trying to flourish tourism and is expanding picnic spots, yesterday the Sindh Coastal Development Authority (SCDA) decided to develop 220 islands on the Sindh coast into tourist attraction spots.
