SUSTAINABLE COASTAL AND MARITIME TOURISM IN PAKISTAN: UNLOCKING THE BLUE ECONOMY POTENTIAL

Coastal and Marine Tourism (CMT) is a crucial component for the generation of Blue Economy which mainly ambitions economic growth. CMT contributes a considerable portion to the global tourism, accounting approximately 50% of the total tourism activities around the globe. The location of Pakistan along the Arabian Sea, with a widespread coastline and rich marine resources, presents significant opportunities for the development of CMT. The Coastal Tourism industry has the potential to become a cornerstone of Pakistan’s blue economy. Despite its potential, CMT in Pakistan remains underdeveloped and in need of dire attention. This paper highlights the opportunities, challenges, and policy recommendations for fostering sustainable CMT in Pakistan. Moreover, the study also examines the role of sustainable CMT in improving and promoting Pakistan’s blue economy by the promotion of biodiversity conservation, reduction of poverty and supporting the sustainable use of marine resources. Key obstacles in developing CMT include a deficiency of cohesive tourism policies and monitoring systems, inadequate investment in eco-friendly facilities, limited awareness of environmental sustainability, and insufficient community engagement. To address this matter, the study recommends actionable recommendations, including the establishment of a devoted Coastal and Maritime Tourism Authority, investment in eco-friendly infrastructure.