Gwadar’s Tourism Potential - A Catalyst for Socio-economic Development in Baluchistan

Abstract

Gwadar is a significant port city and a most critical node point of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, envisioning sustainable tourism that can add to the peace and security within and beyond the country. The present research exploration registers a positive trajectory of a tourism-led holistic security prism. It evaluates ‘why and how’ states have developed their coastlines and maritime infrastructure and successfully leveraged them as an asset for the state. The central argument of this paper is that Gwadar has all the essential baseline ingredients: a picturesque coastline fused with human and cultural heritage that needs to be unlocked to be a vibrant tourist destination for the proactive inclusive national peace, stability and security of the country. Therefore, Gwadar is poised to be perceived and pursued as a ‘Strategic Tourism Key’ for investing in and promoting the Maritime economy to overcome our country’s social and economic disparities and security challenges. An integrated theoretical prism, based on inferences from the ‘Traditional and Non-Traditional Security’ perspective is employed in this study. Here, an indigenous ecosystem that defines the tourism policy perspectives, policies and practices is kept in mind. The dialects of the ‘NI (national interest) – NS (national security) – HS (human security)’ are incorporated through the contractive lens. In crux, this research is alarmist and futuristic at the same time. On the one hand, it highlights the maritime infrastructure and tourism potential of Gwadar and its significance for Pakistan. Parallel to this, the study notes the development gaps in existing tourism policies and limitations in previous policies. In short, Gwadar as a ‘tourist’ destination must be seen as a means for inclusive and holistic national security aspirations. Sustainable peace and stability through ‘Tourism’ is an innovative practice that needs to be cultivated to the maximum in Gwadar’s case based on the balanced ‘state and society’s equation.