A senior official of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) has said that revival of tourism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was one of the topmost priorities of the government to generate revenue and create employment opportunities for the local communities in the province.

Speaking at a colourful event arranged for the families by the KP-CTA at the tourist spot, Khanpur Dam, Secretary Sports, Tourism, Culture, Archaeology, Museum and Youth Affairs Abid Majeed said that a number of steps were being taken on emergency basis to boost tourism in the breadth and width of the province.

Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Shahab Ali Shah, KP-CTA Director General Kamran Afridi, Safdar Hussain of Mabali Island and other officials and a large number of tourists and visitors were present on the occasion.

“Tourism activities at the new tourist resorts through public-private partnership would definitely help boost the sector and generate revenue for the local communities at the district-level,” the secretary said, adding that it would also advance inclusion and highlight the unique role that tourism can play in preserving and promoting natural and cultural heritage and curbing urban migration.

He said that awareness drive through posters, pamphlets and signboards about the tourism activities in the 10 districts of the province had been launched to make access of visitors to the tourist attractions easy.

Abid Majeed said that installation of machinery for cleanliness and establishment of Rescue 1122 stations in Galiyat, Thandiani, Kumrat, Shogran and Kalash under the KITE project were going on at these tourist destinations.

The KP-CTA organised a number of colourful events at the scenic tourist spots of the province, including Swat Valley, Galiyat and Khanpur Dam to commemorate the World Tourism Day 2020.