From 12 to 13 August 2023, Ambassador Mohammad Azhar Mazlan attended Pakistan’s 1st International Tourism Investment Expo 2023 in Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi. Ambassador Azhar, together with Ambassadors from Azerbaijan, Thailand, Iran and Managing Director of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC) Mr. Aftab Ur Rehman Rana, inaugurated the opening ceremony of the two-day event.
The event drew a significant number of stakeholders and industry enthusiasts, underscoring the event's importance in shaping Pakistan's tourism future. In his opening address, Mr. Rana highlighted Pakistan's untapped tourism potential and outlined opportunities in the tourism and hospitality sectors across the country. He also introduced Pakistan’s latest tourism branding, i.e. 'Salam Pakistan' to attract foreign and local tourists as well as to introduce new destinations and facility upgrades. He emphasized the favorable environment for private sector investment to enhance tourism infrastructure.
Amid various stalls at the Expo, Malaysia's booth stood out for its engagement. In his speech, Ambassador Azhar highlighted Malaysia's commitment to collaboration in tourism, emphasizing cultural exchange and bilateral growth. He also shared Malaysia’s best practices as well as highlighted Pakistan’s enormous potential as world class tourist destination. In total, Malaysia's booth attracted more than 1,000 visitors within two days, showcasing Malaysia as a popular destination among the Pakistanis.
