CHITRAL: Speakers at a function held at Kalasha Dur Museum in Bumburate stressed the need to promote tourism in order to ensure development of the backward but scenic areas of Chitral.
The function was arranged in connection with the World Tourism Day and attended by civil society representatives, local people and tourists from different parts of the country.
Speaking on the occasion, Additional Inspector General of Police Inayatullah Khan Gandapur praised the role of the Kalash community in promoting tourism in the area.
He said the tourism potentials of Kalash valleys are huge and its promotion at the international level can end poverty in the area.
Other speakers said controlled tourism is the need of the time and through this employment opportunities can also be created.
They said it was imperative that all tourists should be taken around the valleys by trained local tourist guides instead of letting them move around on their own.
Moreover, the tourists should be briefed and told at the entry check posts to respect the local culture and traditions.
They also said some tourists coming to the Kalash valleys were not aware of the culture and traditions of the community and sometimes acted in such a way that cannot be acceptable in any civilized society.
Checks on environment pollution besides protecting cultural and traditional values are necessary for promotion of tourism on a long-term basis, they added.
Incharge officer of Kalasha Dur Museum Akram Hussain said 5,635 tourists visited the museum in August this year.
He said Kalasha Dur is among the famous museums in KP but due to lack of facilities such as electricity the visitors faced problems.
Participants of the function said without construction of the roads no plan to promote tourism can bring the desired results.
They said the government has been devising plans and making promises to promote tourism but was not interested to construct roads to the scenic areas of Chitral.–Muhkam Uddin Ayuni