BIZ TODAY REPORT
KARACHI: Pakistan Travel Mart (PTM) is Pakistan’s biggest international travel and tourism expo to be held in Karachi Expo Center from 24-26 November 2017. PTM is organized by Landmark Communications with the collaboration of Sindh Tourism Development Corporation, Shaheen Airlines, Hashoo Hotels, PIA, TAAP, HOAP, Bukhari Group, Universal international Group, Qatar Airways, Meezab Group, Serena Hotels, Serene Air, Turkish Airlines, Travelport, Polani Group etc. Tourism Boards of Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Khyber Pakhtoon Khwah are also participating in Pakistan Travel Mart. A large number of international travel and tourism companies from UAE, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Malaysia and Azerbaijan as well as the tourism boards; Tourism Malaysia and Thailand Tourism Authority are also participating in the Pakistan Travel Mart. The purpose of the PTM is to promote Pakistan as a tourist destination and brand Pakistan as a developing and progressive country.
Pakistan Travel Mart is a commerce based business to business platform that shall help the local and international travel players to connect and create synergies to avail unlimited opportunities present in Pakistan’s travel and tourism sector.
A mega press conference of Pakistan Travel Mart was held in Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi today . Mr. Sardar Ali Shah, Minister of Culture, Tourism & Antiquities Government of Sindh conducted the press conference along with Mr. Syed Mohammad Ali Hamdani (CEO of Landmark Communications), Mr. Sardar Ali Shah (Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities Department, Sindh), Mr. Ghulam Akbar Laghari (Secretary Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Sindh), Mr. Roshan Ali Kanasro (M.D Sindh Tourism Development Corporation), Mr. Rafiq Khan (Chairman Bhukari Group), Ms. Lashley A. Pulsipher (Chief Marketing Sales & Revenue Officer, Pakistan Services Limmited), Mr. Hanif Rinch (Representing TAAP), Mr. Furqan Abdul Qadir (Executive Member HOAP), Mr. Fatih Atacan Temel (GM Turkish Airlines), Mr. Zohaib Hassan (Chief Marketing Officer Shaheen Air), Mr. Bilal Sheikh (Chief Commercial Officer, Pakistan International Airlines), Mr. Shakil Ahmed (Executive Director, United international Group), Mr. Tariq Bin Yousaf (General Manager, DOTW Pakistan), Mr. Zubair Surti (Chairman Hotel Association Pakistan), Mr. Ishtiaq Baig ( vice president FPCCI) and Arif Malik (Director Marketing, PTM 2017)
Top management of local and international airlines, travel agencies, Hajj & Umrah operators, hotels, business community and corporate sector attended the event.
Mr. Sardar Ali Shah emphasized the need to promote Pakistan as a tourist destination with special emphasize on the immense tourism potential in Sindh. He informed the audience about the initiatives of the Sindh Government to upgrade and promote tourist destination in Sindh. He also reiterated his commitment towards the Pakistan Travel Mart and how this event shall keep on growing even bigger in scale and impact every year. Mr. Syed Muhammad Ali Hamdani, Chief Executive Officer of Landmark Communications briefed the audience about the purpose and objective of the expo. He emphasized that Pakistan Travel Mart shall promote the enormous tourism potential of Pakistan and attract international tourism into Pakistan. Pakistan Travel Mart shall integrate, consolidate and globalize Pakistan’s travel industry by providing a platform to all the stakeholders. He announced PTM 2018 to be held on 5, 6 and 7 October 2018 as well as participation in ATM 2018.
Leading airlines, travel agencies, Hajj & Umrah operators, hotels, tour operators, technology partners and online booking companies shall exhibit in this expo. Various renowned international travel and tourism companies have also been invited to exhibit at Pakistan Travel Mart. International travel companies have shown their immense interest to exhibit at Pakistan Travel Mart and explore business opportunities in Pakistan’s travel and tourism industry.
Pakistan’s business community, through FPCCI, has also been taken onboard for Pakistan Travel Mart in order to attract more local investment in travel and tourism sector. International business chambers and groups have also been approached so that foreign investment can be solicited into Pakistan’s travel and tourism industry.
We strongly believe that Pakistan has a very bright economic future especially because of China Pakistan Economic Corridor. Pakistan’s tourism potential is already globally acknowledged. Tourism can contribute a lot to further strengthen Pakistan’s economy and improve its international image. Pakistan Travel Mart is the biggest step towards achieving that objective.
We urge everyone to join hands and participate in Pakistan Travel Mart as we believe that PTM is for Pakistan.
