Speakers at a seminar on Monday said that the country can earn heavy foreign exchange by promoting agri tourism. They were addressing first Agri Tourism Conference arranged at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with

Speakers at a seminar on Monday said that the country can earn heavy foreign exchange by promoting agri tourism. They were addressing first Agri Tourism Conference arranged at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in collaboration with Addressing on the occasion, UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Iqbal Zafar said that with the passage of time, the way of life is changing and it is becoming artificial. He said that junk food and away from the natural way of life were creating many problems. He said that tourism also helped promote soft image of a country at international level and brings the people of different parts of the world closer to each other. The steps will foster a better understanding for the foreign cultures and way of life. He said that we have to ensure long-lasting socio-economic uplift by putting a focus on international best practices of sustainable tourism. It will turn bring a positive change for the people of country. He said that agricultural tourism will also help the poverty alleviation in the rural population. He said that tourism is one of major industry in many countries. He said that steps are needed to gear up our tourism industry to become a major sector of national economy. Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa said that universities can play a pivotal role in the promotion of tourism with trained manpower equipped with innovative ideas for the sector. He said that UAF was making all out-efforts to produce the manpower especially in the agricultural sector. Shahzad Basra said that in Nepal, a model is developed under which planting plants are made compulsory for school students in some schools. He said that such initiatives would develop the importance of trees in the students’ personalities. Senior Tutor Dr Athar Javed said that country was blessed with the tremendous resources. There is a need to tap the potential. CEO ATDCP Tariq Taveer, said that promotion of agri tourism would also benefit rural population. Dr Allah Dad Khan also spoke on the occasion.