Sri Lanka and Pakistan have agreed to explore joint initiatives in marine and coastal tourism aimed at boosting the blue economy, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening regional connectivity through sustainable ocean-based development.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Sri Lankan Minister for Transport, Highways and Urban Development Bimal Rathnayake and Pakistan’s Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry in Islamabad.
Minister Chaudhry highlighted the immense potential of the blue economy for both countries, noting that nearly three billion people worldwide depend on ocean-related industries. He emphasized Pakistan’s 1,000-kilometre coastline as a key economic asset and outlined government initiatives to promote harbour cruises, recreational fishing, yachting, and maritime heritage tourism in areas such as Gwadar and Karachi.
Proposing enhanced cooperation, he suggested developing joint marine tourism routes or packages linking popular coastal destinations in both nations, along with ferry services, cultural exchanges, and coordinated marketing efforts.
Minister Rathnayake welcomed the proposal, noting that Sri Lanka’s Marine Tourism Roadmap focuses on strengthening the coastal economy through eco-friendly tourism zones and improved infrastructure in regions such as Kalpitiya, Trincomalee, Mannar, and Jaffna. He emphasized that the partnership could help expand regional tourist traffic while showcasing the shared marine and cultural heritage of the two countries.
Both ministers agreed that closer collaboration in marine tourism could generate jobs, promote ocean conservation, and support sustainable coastal development — marking a new chapter in Pakistan–Sri Lanka blue economy cooperation.
