Maritime tourism has become the ‘buzzword’ in the global economic industry. A review undertaken by the World Economic Forum concludes that maritime and coastal tourism would grow at a global rate of 3.5 percent annually by 2030. The travel and tourism industry at large has performed remarkably well over the years. It shared 10.4% of global GDP in the preceding year equivalent to a striking $8.8 trillion dollars. The industry also provides 319 million jobs; i.e. 1 out of every 10 jobs provided on an aggregate. For South Asia, projected to be one of the fastest-growing regions there are important takeaways from the success story of the global travel and tourism industry. The region presently contributes $296 billion in tourism, with states such as Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka taking the lead in successfully whirling the sector into a major contributor to the national economy. The World Bank estimates that tourism for Pakistan has a mere share of 2.93 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP), compared to other regional states that are performing extraordinarily well. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) by tapping into the maritime potential of Pakistan and Gwadar port, in particular, is foreseen by analysts to provide the necessary impetus for prosperous sea-based tourism in Pakistan.
The joint venture of $52 billion (CPEC) between China and Pakistan, is a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The latter aims to revive the ancient Silk Road via an ambitious network of rail, road, and maritime networks involving more than 150 states across the continent. The grandeur nature of the project allows considerable opportunities for local and international investors to participate in developing the sea-based tourism industry. It is worth mentioning that China increased its revenues to almost ten times from RMB 147.8 billion (2002) to RMB 1463.6 billion (2017), as a result of coastal tourism. The two countries should collaborate on increasing tourism. China sharing from its successful experience can provide important insights in developing a viable maritime tourism industry in Pakistan.
In order to fully grasp the industry, there is a need to define the two interlinked, yet different forms of sea-based tourism under discussion. Coastal tourism refers to land-based tourist activities including swimming, surfing, sunbathing, and other coastal recreation activities. Maritime tourism denotes those sea activities such as boating, yachting, cruising, and nautical sports. Studies that have been undertaken on the financial aspects of sea-based tourism signify the “multiplier-effect of tourism”. It is revealed that those destinations that are inclined to provide amenities to the lucrative segments of the market, particularly the high-end tourists draw in massive scale revenues that can add to the GDP of the country.
The coastline of Pakistan extends to 1050 km along the Arabian Sea, of which Sindh province shares 350 km and Balochistan segments 700 km. The coastal region of Balochistan in particular has a number of sand beaches with “shifting sand dunes”. Biological diversity, adds to the beauty and importance of the coastal belt, where migratory birds can be seen at Pasni, Jiwani, and Miani Hor. Astola Island, the country’s first Marine Protected Area (MPA), is a known nesting ground for endangered green turtles which can perhaps be developed into a sustainable tourist attraction. The Balochistan government, in view of the above potential, has announced to build tourist resorts to cater to the needs of local and foreign tourists at an allocated cost of Rupees 150 million at Kund Malir, Gadani, Ormara, Jiwani, and Kalmat. Karachi, the provincial capital of Sindh, is a coastal city that remains a popular destination among national tourists. The Clifton beach is a famous place to visit where camel and buggy rides are offered for families on picnics. Hawke’s Bay is another beach for leisure seekers who usually rent a hut to spend their weekends. The Indus Delta and the mangroves at the Sindh provincial coast also offer a potential tourism resource.
