On 26 March 2021, an expert meeting chaired by Uzbekistan was held via videoconference to discuss a draft Statute of the SCO Tourism and Culture Capital.
SCO experts discussed the draft document with a focus on the submitted comments and suggestions and approved a draft Statute of the SCO Tourism and Culture Capital at their level.
During the 2019 Bishkek summit, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev suggested establishing an annual SCO tradition to proclaim a city in the country presiding in the SCO as the SCO tourism and culture capital. In this regard, Uzbekistan prepared a draft statute and submitted it to the parties.
The document is designed to uncover the huge tourism potential of the cities and regions, and to promote the rich cultural and historical heritage of the SCO peoples and member states.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation comprises a mechanism of meetings of the Tourism Administrations Heads of SCO Member States. Their meetings are held annually at the request of the country presiding in the SCO. Participants in the meetings discuss interaction between the SCO member states related to the development of tourism potential, tourism infrastructure, smart tourism, online services for tourists and many other matters.
The Programme to Develop Cooperation in Tourism of the SCO Member States was adopted in 2016 in Tashkent. The parties also developed a Joint Action Plan for the Implementation of the Programme for 2021-2022 that was approved at the recent meeting of the Tourism Administrations Heads of SCO Member States on 22 May 2020.