Ambassador Andreas Ferrarese speaks of ways Pakistan can attract tourists

Newswire

Islamabad: Italy’s Ambassador to Pakistan Andreas Ferrarese this week he spoke of the ways Pakistan can attract tourists.

Speaking from his experience as the person who used to write the official travel advisory of Italy, he said: “Pakistan is not for the middle man. Keeping in mind certain behaviours that may offend local sensibilities, we do not pose major limits for Italians wanting to travel here,” he said. Italians have extreme tourists such as those wanting to climb the Himalayas. Outlining how the middle class can be attracted, the ambassador spoke of the need for infrastructure.”

He added: “People want a comfortable hotel in a scenic spot with English speaking staff and transport available to buy your Pashmina shawls. Even those who are not very rich can then come. But it is not a one-way street. Italy wants to attract rich Pakistanis who spend their summers abroad as well.”

“You have 30m people that are rich,” he said, speaking about the competition among European countries that vie for Pakistani tourists — leisure as well as health. Well-off people go to foreign hospitals. “Why should someone go to London for an operation and not Milano,” he queried.

“About 5,000-6,000 Pakistani tourists visit Italy every year. Most go to other countries and that is not positive for us.”