Guest Post by Bradistan Calling
The government has decided to celebrate the year 2007 as ‘Visit Pakistan Year‘.
Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the world. It can bring employment, opportunities and recognition. Pakistan is one of the best kept secrets of the tourism industry. Posts on ATP – on our various hidden tourist gems, our history, our culture and heritage, etc. – are examples of all that Pakistan has to offer. Everyone has their own ideas on Pakistan and pakistaniat; but ATP has demonostrated our ‘unity in diversity.’
ATP is the right forum for discussing how we can make “Visit Pakistan 2007” a success.
What avenues can be explored for participation and promotion of Pakistan. How can we 
attract tourists to Pakistan in 2007 and beyond? What can institutions like the national flag carrier (PIA) do to become a calling card for Pakistani tourism and hospitality? What role can the media play in this? And what can Pakistanis abroad do?
If those Pakistanis who live abroad decide to take ‘Visit Pakistan 2007’ seriously, others will surely follow.
Bradistan Calling is a proud Pakistani in Bradford, West yorkshire (Little Pakistan).
http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F0 0F12FC3E5C0C778CDDA10894DF404482
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbasiannetwork/F4154526?t hread=4421730&skip=0&show=20
Saira Khan’s Pakistan Adventure
please watch the show
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo/noise/?programme=saira _khan
missionaries, NGOs,private citizens, my space,youtube and blogs can promote tourism to fight poverty,foreigners(like myself) would stand out like sore thumb in swat and chitral even kaghan under MMA theocracy, may be pakistanis are treated better by locals, but the poverty in chitral swat kaghan is major issue, especially small children begging for 5 10 rupees, books,pencils, all this was in 1992 , i donot know whats the situation now
Pakistan has a host of attractions to interest many foreigners,but since 9/11 my own family forbid me, an overseas Pakistani to travel alone to see places such as Uchch Sharif and Derawar Fort because they say it just isn’t safe.There are nutters who are deeply suspicious of anyone coming overland from Amritsar!!
Pakistan does not look after its Islamic relics and just neglects its Pre Islamic past and the non Muslim places and monuments that are of the most interest to a foreign tourist.
I myself prefer to backpack around India.It is safer , even more diverse, more FUN and is geared towards visitors.
Moreover until Masala Dosa replaces oily kabab and naan, things remain grim for Pakistan in the tourism dept.