Key points
- Ministers discuss blue economy collaboration to boost regional tourism
- Pakistan proposes joint marine routes, ferry services, and cultural exchanges
- Coastal and marine tourism projected to grow 3.5% annually worldwide
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Sri Lanka have agreed to explore joint cooperation in the marine tourism sector, recognizing the potential of their extensive coastlines and marine biodiversity to drive sustainable economic growth and regional connectivity.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry made the proposal during a meeting with Sri Lankan Minister for Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Niroshan Rathnayake, who called on him in Islamabad.
Chaudhry said marine industries, particularly fisheries and tourism, play a crucial role in supporting livelihoods in developing economies. “The economic living of nearly 3.0 billion people depends on the ocean economy, most of whom reside in developing regions,” he said.
Citing global estimates, the minister noted that coastal and marine tourism currently supports about 6.5 million jobs, with the ocean economy projected to grow by 3.5 percent annually. “By 2030, marine and coastal tourism will become the largest value-added component of the marine economy, accounting for up to 26 percent of total production,” he added.
Pakistan, which has a 1,000-kilometer-long coastline, is working to develop its coastal and marine tourism sectors through initiatives such as harbour cruises, recreational fishing, yachting, and maritime heritage tourism — particularly around Gwadar and Karachi — to diversify its blue economy.
The minister proposed the development of joint marine tourism routes and packages linking key coastal destinations in both countries, as well as enhanced ferry services, cultural exchanges, and coordinated marketing campaigns.
Sri Lankan Minister Rathnayake welcomed the proposal, saying his country’s marine tourism infrastructure could complement Pakistan’s emerging coastal market. “This cooperation could expand mutual tourism growth, increase regional visitor traffic, and promote our shared marine and cultural assets,” he said.
He noted that Sri Lanka’s Marine Tourism Roadmap, recently launched by Colombo, aims to strengthen its coastal economy through eco-friendly tourism zones and upgraded infrastructure in Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Mannar, and Jaffna.
Chaudhry said rising interest in organized tour packages from Pakistan to Sri Lanka underscores the potential for better connectivity and tourism synergies. “Marine tourism cooperation between Pakistan and Sri Lanka can capitalize on our coastal strengths to create sustainable economic benefits,” he said.
Both ministers agreed that enhanced collaboration in the blue economy and marine tourism sectors could generate employment, promote marine conservation, and support sustainable coastal development, contributing significantly to regional economic integration.
