ISLAMABAD
The stakeholders of Sports Tourism in a Conference held at Bagh stressed the sustainability of Winter Sports Tourism. The purpose of this Conference is to highlight the importance of the sustainability of winter sports tourism among masses and to discuss way forward.
The activities and festivals of winter sports have recently been witnessed in different mountain regions of the country. The activities held occasionally for a short period but no one talked about its continuity and sustainability.
The Conference held three Sessions. In the first Session media persons were briefed about the Conference and its objectives.
The representatives of main stream media and Bagh Digital Media Club were present at the occasion.
They took active part and highlighting the role of media assured that activities of sports tourism in winter would be project to attract more participants.
Second Session was held with the stakeholders. Mr. Ali Shoukat General Manger from MTBC, the sponsoring agency welcome the participants and enlightened about their contribution and support for the local community and promotion of winter sports tourism under the initiative of social corporate responsibility.
He stressed the need to facilitate tourists towards more destination for which they are working with concerned departments.
Mr. Abu Zafar Sadiq, President, Alpine Club of Pakistan (ACP) introduced the concept of sustainable sports tourism and stressed the need to enhance the understanding of the role of stakeholders and build synergies among them.
While inviting the attention of the house towards alarming solid waste and unchecked construction of buildings posing threat to the sports, Dr. Mubashar from Women University Bagh suggested that strict regulations are required to improve the situation.
The representatives of line Government Departments, Civil Society organizations, community, tourism and sports industry which included Syed Zubair Hassan Zubairi, Kamran Nasim, Akaram Awan, Ali Syed, Nisar Shaaiq, Tariq Bashsir, Rais Inqlabi, Suhail Hassan, Abdullah Sarfraz, Kamran Nasim took active part in the discussion and raised concern about weak implementation of the different policies which effect the sustainability of sports tourism in winter.
While replying to various question Mr. Abdul Sattar, representative of Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and Mr. Shahid Islamabad Deputy Director General, Pakistan Sports Board said that the Federal Government and Government of AJK have already taken various steps to promote responsible tourism and would further enhance co-operation among the different tiers of Government and among the stakeholders to build synergies for sustainability of not only winter sports tourism but summer tourism as well.
Mr. Ammanullah Mani, Secretary of Bagh Alpine Club thanked the participants for their active participation. The Conference was organized by Alpine Club of Pakistan and Bagh Alpine Club with the generous sponsorship of MTBC.
