October 30, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed to work together on new ventures in coastal and marine tourism aimed at strengthening the blue economy, generating employment, and enhancing regional links through sustainable ocean-based initiatives.
The understanding was reached in Islamabad during discussions between Sri Lanka’s Minister of Transport, Highways and Urban Development, Bimal Rathnayake, and Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry.
Minister Chaudhry underlined the significant promise of the blue economy for both nations, pointing out that around three billion people worldwide rely on ocean-related industries for their livelihoods. He highlighted Pakistan’s 1,000-kilometre coastline as a vital economic resource and noted that the government is actively advancing maritime tourism through activities such as harbour cruises, recreational fishing, yachting, and heritage tours in coastal hubs including Gwadar and Karachi.
He proposed expanding cooperation by developing joint marine tourism routes or packages linking the two countries’ coastal attractions. This could include ferry connections, cultural exchange initiatives, and coordinated promotional campaigns to boost regional visitor numbers.
Minister Rathnayake welcomed the proposal, noting that Sri Lanka’s Marine Tourism Roadmap focuses on strengthening the coastal economy through sustainable tourism zones and improved infrastructure in areas such as Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Mannar, and Jaffna. He observed that a collaborative effort would not only stimulate tourism between the two nations but also celebrate their shared maritime and cultural legacies.
Both ministers agreed that enhanced cooperation in marine tourism could foster job creation, promote environmental stewardship, and drive sustainable coastal development, signalling a fresh phase in the Pakistan–Sri Lanka partnership within the blue economy sector.
