The Jakarta Post's Soeryo Winoto was among those tour operators and journalists the Pakistan government had invited from 40 countries to witness the launch of its ambitious programme, Visit Pakistan Year 2007.
When I told a friend I was going to Pakistan, he looked surprised, asking what I would gain from such a "risky" trip. He looked even more surprised when I told him I had been invited by the Pakistani Embassy here to witness the launching of Visit Pakistan Year 2007. "Is it really about tourism in Pakistan?" he asked.
Another friend said the kidnapping of foreigners remains rampant in Pakistan. "But you, having black hair, would have no problem," said a friend, a Dutch national with blond hair.
I started to wonder, how would the Pakistani authorities be able to attract international tourists while internal security is so out of hand I became very curious and a little worried in case my Dutch friend's teasing was true after all, he writes in Jakarta Post.
Despite my curiosity about how Visit Pakistan Year 2007 would pan out in Pakistan, Karachi airport looked like any other. I was able to breathe clean air at the airport where security guards were on alert, as at airports elsewhere.
I was relieved to find my friends' warnings about poor security were wide of the mark. At Islamabad Airport there was no sign of an insecure atmosphere. People seemed to have no constraint on their legitimate activities at the airport, and no visitors appeared concerned about their security.
I found locals were all friendly and Assalamualaikum became the divine greeting to almost everyone, who responded with Wuallaikum salam ..., or smiled.
Pakistan is very serious in selling its natural beauty. Its tourism programme for 2007 is a well-prepared large project that is designed ultimately to improve the standard of living of Pakistanis, journalist writes.
Inviting around 140 people from 40 countries to witness the launch of Visit Pakistan Year 2007 or Destination Pakistan 2007 is evidence of the country's seriousness in telling the world, "Pakistan is worth visiting".
Later on, I acknowledged that Pakistan's ambitious plan to attract as many world tourists as possible was not an impossible dream.
The country, more than 70 percent of whose population depend on agriculture, has a long way to go to become a world tourist destination.
To the surprise of many, religions other than Islam are also respected here in Pakistan. Christmas celebrations in Lahore are clearly marked on the official tourism campaign calendar of events.
The World Buddhist Congress scheduled for November this year is also proof of respect for other religions in Pakistan.