Tourism is a vital element of economic development and cultural dialogue between the SCO nations. Issues pertaining to the effective use of the tourist potential were discussed at a meeting of the SCO experts on tourism held at the SCO Secretariat in Beijing on 25-26 April 2017. The meeting was chaired by Kazakhstan.
Participants at the event shared information on their tourism policies and legislation, as well as international travel and tourism exhibitions organised with support from the national tourism administrations of the SCO countries.
The tourism experts have drafted a joint action plan to implement the Tourism Cooperation Programme for 2017-2018. It is designed to strengthen cooperation between the SCO member states' government agencies on tourism, promote tourist products, enhance the quality of tourist services and protect the tourists' legitimate rights, interests and safety.
The document also covers issues of research into and development of the tourist technologies.
Yerik Ashimov, Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan at SCO Secretariat, said: "This expert meeting provided a platform for discussing current issues of the development of the travel and tourism business within the SCO. There are grounds to believe that this constructive dialogue between representatives of the national tourist administrations will create a solid basis for the continued development of the tourist industry in SCO countries."
The Programme for expanded tourism cooperation between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states was adopted at the Tashkent Summit on 24 June 2016.
The Action Plan for the Implementation of the Programme for expanded tourism cooperation between Shanghai Cooperation Organisation member states for 2017-2018 will be approved by the heads of national tourist administrations at the Astana Summit on 8-9 June 2017. The ceremony will be attended by the heads of the SCO member states.