Staff Reporter
Islamabad
Maritime Study Forum, an Islamabad based think-tank, organized a webinar on “How to get Pakistan’s Coastal Tourism Industry Up and Running?” Prominent scholars from academia, media persons, and policy makers were among guests and participants.
The webinar aimed to bring Pakistan’s coastal tourism industry into spotlight and to overcome its issues with sustainable policy options. According to the presentation by Maritime Study Forum the estimated potential of coastal tourism in Pakistan amounts around $4-5 billion.
However, Pakistan hardly generates around $50,000 from this industry. According to a survey conducted by Maritime Study Forum, around 70% of the participants were interested in coastal tourism. However, most of them had either never experience coastal tourism or had not seen Pakistan’s coastline beyond Karachi.
The presentation concluded on need to take steps and work on promoting coastal tourism and averting sea-blindness. One of the panellists Air Vice Marshal (R) Ijaz Malik stressed on taking example from coastal tourism development models of other countries which are exploiting the potential.
In this regard, he suggested UAE model would help Pakistan develop its coast for a thriving tourism industry.
Ms. Nadia Naqi, senior journalist and anchor person , described how Pakistan’s coastal tourism has remained stagnant through decades.
