Foreign tourist in northern Pakistan. [Photo by @kptourism]

by Tahir Ali

PESHAWAR, Sep. 16 (Gwadar Pro) - The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Culture and Tourism Authority (KP-CTA) has joined hands with Chinese smartphone giant Oppo to jointly promote tourism and highlight portrait photography and capture the national sentiment.

According to an official statement, KP-CTA and Oppo Pakistan would execute the project “Discover the faces of Pakistan” jointly. The project entitled “The Unique Story of the People of Pakistan” would be highlighted through camera lens and displayed via social media platforms.

Under the project, famed content creators and journalists would be taken to the scenic spots in Chitral, so they could closely watch the indigenous Kalash culture, history and tourist and historic places and introduce them to the world. KP-CTA would provide accommodation to the content creators in camping pods in Kalash during their weeklong stay in the district.

The content creators and writers would visit Kalash, Broon, Batrak, Anish, Kakral valleys, museum, Chitral Fort, Shahi Masjid, Shandur Polo Ground, embroidery items, Markhor Point, Birr Moglasht, hand-made goods, Kalash culture, historic abodes and others places in Chitral.

The United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated 2021 as “Tourism for Inclusive Growth”. The World Tourism Day is marked each year on September 27 to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

The KP government has attached particular importance to the promotion of tourism in the province. During the budget of Fiscal Year 2021-22, the KP government allocated development funds from Rs. 2 billion to Rs. 12 billion for the tourism department to set up integrated tourism zones and an innovation fund of Rs. 3.8 billion for developing the Water Park in Swabi district.

The connectivity projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have significantly boosted tourism in Pakistan. Experts believe that the tourism sector in Pakistan will further improve as the coronavirus pandemic dissipates and the ongoing connectivity projects under CPEC are completed.

This article originally appeared on Gwadar Pro.