HP Newsroom

University of Baltistan Skardu organized a seminar on Sustainable Mountain Tourism at its Skardu campus the other day. Aftab ur Rehman Rana, Managing Director was invited as the guest of honor to deliver a key note presentation on the theme of the seminar.

Mr. Rana informed the audience that the rapid growth of tourism in the mountainous region of Baltistan has created a tangible impact on the local economy but at the same time, it is adversely impacting the natural landscape and the sociocultural life of local communities. In his presentation he also focused on developing understanding among the participants about the true meaning of sustainable tourism and its application for the long term benefits of tourism sector, wellbeing of the local communities and to ensure healthy growth of tourism in this mountainous region.

He emphasized that we can only achieve this, if we adopt environmental, social and economic sustainability in the practices of tourism and hospitality industry.

In the seminar, University of Baltistan and PTDC agreed to jointly establish a Center of Excellence for Mountain Tourism at Skardu Campus of UBS to build the capacity of local communities through regular training programs, carry out research on different aspects of mountain tourism by involving faculty and students and provide policy guidelines to the government and stakeholders to develop mountain tourism which is more inclusive, sustainable and beneficial for this region.