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| India-Pakistan | |
| KP aims to promote religious tourism | |
| 2012-09-11 | |
| [Dawn] Considered to be the world's largest market for religious tourism, the Buddhist sites in Pakistain can attract tourists from across Asia-Pacific region, according to Tourism Corporation Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa ... formerly NWFP, still Terrorism Central... (TCKP). "If sites are properly preserved and security is provided to tourists,
"The provincial government has started investment to particularly promote tourism in two spheres. One is religious tourism that can bring followers of Buddhism from all over the world, particularly the Asia-Pacific region, and second, exploration of natural sites which have great potential to attract domestic tourists," he said. The secretary said that highly revered places of worship of Buddhism like monastic complex of Takht Bahi existed in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. He said that the tourism corporation had organised Gandhara Peace Tour in April 2012 to introduce religious archaeological tourism. A delegation had recently also visited South Korea to promote the theme of religious tourism, he said. "There is great potential and we should take its advantage," he remarked, adding that security and facilities for visitors were prerequisites for encouraging foreign tourists to come to Pakistain for worship and recreation. According to the Unesco, the Buddhist monastic complex of Takht Bahi (Throne of Origins) in Mardan district -- founded early in the 1st century -- is the most impressive and complete Buddhist monastery in Pakistain. After the 18th Constitution amendment, the federal government has handed over 91 archaeological sites to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Archaeology Department. Officials said that the provincial government was improving these sites and basic facilities would be provided at these spots. | |
| Posted by:Fred |