China resumes outbound group tours to Pakistan

BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism has unveiled plans to resume outbound group tours for its citizens, encompassing approximately 80 countries, among them Pakistan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Mexico.

This initiative marks the third phase of China’s pilot program for outbound group tours. The expansion of destinations comes as China’s overseas tourism sector continues its steady recovery, with the move anticipated to provide a welcome boost to the global tourism industry and instill optimism in the global economy.

Experts view the outbound tourism market as driven by demand, necessitating advance preparations of various service offerings. Jiang Yiyi, a professor at the Beijing Sport University, highlighted the significance of readiness in the sector.

In efforts to strengthen tourism collaboration between China and Pakistan, the Pakistani Embassy in China introduced the “Discover Batie” website. This platform offers insights into Pakistan’s key tourist attractions and provides links to official websites of major museums, malls, and hotels.

Prior initiatives include a Gandhara Art Exhibition at Beijing’s Palace Museum, showcasing 173 artifacts from Pakistan. Sardar Muhammad, Consul General of Pakistan in Guangzhou, emphasized the event as an opportunity to showcase Pakistan’s offerings to Chinese audiences.

Pakistan’s natural beauty, including snow-covered mountains, lakes, pine trees, and waterfalls, has gained attention, particularly for adventurous tourism. Efforts are underway to promote tourism and facilitate travel for international visitors. The Task Force on Tourism and initiatives by the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation aim to create a favorable environment for global tourists, encouraging group tourism through authorized tour operators.

Rana Aftab, Managing Director of PTDC, emphasized the focus on enhancing security, ease of travel, and tourism infrastructure to attract international visitors.