Experts at a conference on Thursday underlined the need for a dedicated ecotourism policy for protecting cultural and biological diversity of picturesque tourist attractions across the country. The conference titled Ecotourism for Rural Economy was arranged by Akhtar Hameed Khan National Centre for Rural Development (AHKNCRD) in collaboration with African-Asian Rural Development Organisation (AARDO). Rana said mass tourism was found to augment water consumption, litter and waste, and air pollution at major tourist resorts of the northern areas. The NTCB member said the country had enormous potential of ecotourism that was needed to be exploited for development of rural economies and uplift of locals' living standards. Drive for Economic and Environment Development Director Muhammad Junaid Ghauri asked the government to introduce a separate eco-tourism policy to identify environmental consequences, emanating from increased tourism activities across the country.

Source: The Express Tribune November 20, 2020 05:59 UTC