Agra: Pakistan today (August 6, 2004) stressed on the need for speedy implementation of tourism protocol between Islamabad and New Delhi and hoped the idea of "group tourism," which has been agreed by both sides would boost bilateral tourism.

"We have stressed on the need for implementing group tourism at the recent Indo-Pak cultural talks held in New Delhi. This would explore more avenues as the domestic tourism potential between the two countries are immense," Pakistan tourism and cultural secretary Jalil Abbas said in Agra.

He said the issue of promotion of tourism figured prominently at the recent official-level talks and the idea of "group tourism", under which a group of 15 to 100 people can cross the borders for a period of two weeks, was mooted and agreed upon.

The exchange of groups of tourists can open up new avenues. "We hope to begin it at the first possible opportunity and it should open up a great deal of cooperation to tap the potential in both the countries," he said on the sidelines of the annual convention of Indian Association of Tour Operators in Agra.

Expressing hope that once the group tourism package comes into existence, individual travel will also be opened up and will help facilitate more people-to-people contact between the neighbouring countries.