Swat, July 07: Swat Tourism Peace Festival continues for the ninth day in the row. Thousands of tourists from inside Pakistan and from other countries visiting and enjoying Swat Tourism Peace Festival. Which is aimed to boost the tourism industry in the terrorism infected beautiful grassy grounds of Swat.

Due to foreign insurgencies, the economy of the area was heavily disturbed and the graph of business and tourism activities in the area had fallen below the bottom line, disturbing the daily lives of poor inhabitants of the region.

The idea of Swat Tourism Peace Festival mounted by Pakistan Army and many government institutions, such as PTDC, have provided assistance and support to get the idea of Swat Tourism Peace Festival working.

Large number of programmes have been organised in Swat Tourism Peace Festival. Which include boat-sailing contest, horse riding, kite flying, musical events including dances by local and national artists, car rallies and many other sports events, canoeing, para gliding and many other social activities. Play areas for children and Industrial Exhibition is also an important part of Swat Tourism Peace Festival.

Local business community, especially those running hotels in the area, are loudly supporting Swat Tourism Peace Festival. Many hotel owners offering 50% off of the regular charges for the tourists coming from other parts of the country. The head of Swat Traders Federation, Mr. Abdul Rahim said that the business communities in swat and surrounding areas are very much in favour of such activities. He further said that through Swat Tourism Peace Festival, we would be able restore the tourism industry in the area, which is most important source of income for the locals.

After Pakistan Army took over control of law and order situation in Swat, the business activities are rising fast. The tourism and hotel industry is reviving, resulting in more employment opportunities. Which will further strengthen the economy of individuals and poverty will end forever.

Thousands of people are participating in Swat Tourism Peace Festival on daily bases. Traffic jams on previously empty roads becoming a daily routine. The interesting part of the story is that the people from downtown Pakistan, such as Lahore, Faisalabad, Sialkot, Rahim Yar Khan, Multan, Sukkhar, Hayerabad, Karachi, Quetta and Gwadar are among the main participants. The locals, such as from Mangora, Swabi etc, are no less than the rest of the Pakistanis.

Swat Tourism Peace Festival leaving behind the traditional tourist place of Murree for downtown Pakistanis. Swat Tourism Peace Festival which was started on 29th of June, will continue for more than two weeks. Its expected end date is July 18, 2010. However, the organisers are already considering continuing Swat Tourism Peace Festival for a month.