Speakers discuss tourism challenges in Post-Covid 19 era, urge following of SOPs in letter & spirit <\/p>\n
Islamabad: In many countries of the world, tourism is the main source of income and their economies more or less rely on the revenue generated through this industry.<\/p>\n
In the recent wave of coronavirus, whereas the tourism industry was adversely affected, economies of these countries also suffered a huge loss. Pakistan being one of the few countries that have overcome coronavirus is now in an ideal position to attract the world to its touristic sights and treasures of historical, natural and cultural places.<\/p>\n
Tourism experts, environmentalists, adventurers and youth representatives expressed these views while taking part in a special event organized by the Pakistan Youth Hostel Association (PYHA) at its Islamabad campus on Friday.<\/p>\n
The event coincided with the World Tourism Day being celebrated worldwide tomorrow (Sept 27). The speakers while emphasizing the need for tourism revival in the country expressed the joy that the PYHA was back to business and opening its branches countrywide welcoming tourists and adventurers.<\/p>\n
In his welcome remarks, Executive Secretary of the PYHA, former Ambassador Qazi Humayun said no doubt, tourism was the first casualty of coronavirus and countries like Italy and Spain witnessed a plunge in their economies with tourism activities coming to zero during the last six months.<\/p>\n
Besides decline in revenue, jobs were also lost because of Covid-19 and an estimated 120 million jobs were lost worldwide because of Covid-19, said Ambassador Humayun.<\/p>\n
For Pakistan Youth Hostels Association too, tourism sector\u2019s closure was also a setback, said Ambassador Humayn adding PYHA was directly linked with tourism industry. \u201cI am glad our hostels are opening now and we are back to business,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Humayun cautioned the tourists and tourism promotional bodies and organizations to make sure health guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were in place since Covid-19 had declined but was not completely eliminated. \u201cWe are hearing there is a potential threat that the pandemic might return so we must take precautionary measures,\u201d said he.<\/p>\n
Well known environmentalist and Director of Devcom-Pakistan and DTN Munir Ahmed commended the PYHA for organizing a seminar on the eve of World Tourism Day. In the post-coronavirus world, we need to adopt \u2018new normal,\u2019 said Munir Ahmed. He emphasized following health guidelines, SOPs as the virus was not going anywhere. \u201cWe need to learn to live with coronavirus and return to our daily business while following all preventive methods,\u201d said he.<\/p>\n
Javeria Tamim, a poetess and educationist, also called for highlighting Pakistan\u2019s tourism potential. We are not only naturally beautiful but also culturally rich, she said. A photo slide of Pakistan\u2019s top tourism points prepared by Javeria\u2019s son Abdul Wahb was also screened on the occasion.<\/p>\n
Research Associate of National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) Naureen Fatima drew that audience\u2019s attention to maritime tourism which is perhaps the most neglected component of our tourism industry.<\/p>\n
Shaaref Munir, a student of Tourism and hospitality business management Ozyegin University Istanbul, shared his experience how Turkey dealt with the pandemic. He said observing and studying of the practices has become crucial after the restaurants and tourists\u2019 spots were made open several months after the Covid-19 spread.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis became an opportunity for me to personally be able to observe some of the best practices being conducted, starting from the Turkish Ministry of Tourism to the service-providing institutions, and all the way to common-man,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Speakers discuss tourism challenges in Post-Covid 19 era, urge following of SOPs in letter & spirit Islamabad: In many countries of the world, tourism is the main source of income and their economies more or less rely on the revenue generated through this industry. In the recent wave of coronavirus, whereas the tourism industry was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":146639,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-146638","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n