Silk route festival

Introduction:

Acclaimed as the ‘greatest route in the history of mankind’, the ancient Silk Road formed the first bridge between the East and West and was an important vehicle for trade between the ancient empires of China, India, Persia and Rome. Dating back to 200 BC, the route was a channel for contact between people and cultures, inspiring the exchange of dialogue, art, religion, ideas and technology. With its richly diverse cultural heritage and its wealth of natural tourism attractions spanning across 12,000 kilometers of ancient routes, the modern -day Silk Road offers visitors the opportunity to experience a unique network of destinations, following the footsteps of some of the world’s most acclaimed explorers, such as Alexander the Great and Marco Polo.Historically the Gilgit-Baltistan Province of Pakistan had close linkages with the central Asia including Peoples Republic of China, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, through different branches of Old Silk Route. Similarly the region was well connected with Ladakh, Tibet and Kashmir. These linkages with the outside regions had lasting impact on communities of Gilgit-Baltistan.. Its unique location – the main trading route between India, China and Central Asia (Silk Route) passed through the area – not only made it a meeting place for traders and pilgrims, but also attracted emperors and conquers from Central Asia and Persia.

The Silk Route Festival focuses its activities on the following objectives:

• The Silk Route will be an established brand, supported by extensive cooperative marketing campaigns
• The Silk Route will stimulate cooperative campaigns and partnerships between public and private sector
• Silk Route tourism will act as a vehicle for fostering peace and cultural understanding
• Governments will value and support the tourism sector and gain significant return for their investment
• Tourism will drive improved cultural and environmental management
• Tourism will generate significant direct and indirect employment
• Silk Road stakeholders will work closely together for mutual benefit.