Saudi Arabia is interested in investing in Pakistan’s tourism industry, which could help improve the country’s tourism sector.
Aftab Rana, the Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Authority (PTDA), said that business people from Riyadh are interested in developing the coastal areas of Balochistan and building tourist cities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
He also mentioned that the Saudi government is investing in global tourism as part of its Vision 2030 plan. Both Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are working together on Halal tourism to attract tourists from the Middle East.
Rana explained that Pakistan’s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has hired an international company to create a national tourism strategy to bring in more foreign investment and visitors. The government has also approved a new visa policy for 126 countries, including six Gulf nations, to make it easier for tourists to visit.
The PTDC is focusing on religious tourism, especially for Sikh and Buddhist communities. Pakistan is working to attract Sikh pilgrims to visit religious sites in Punjab and Buddhist tourists to explore the Gandhara region, including Taxila, Mardan, and Swat.
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The government is encouraging the private sector to highlight Pakistan’s tourism potential through events like an Expo. PTDC is supporting the Pakistan Tourism Mart (PTM) and the Saudi Tourism Department in hosting the 4th International Tourism Expo in Karachi, from January 31 to February 2, 2025.