On 24 May 2024, SCO Secretary-General Zhang Ming attended a meeting of SCO countries’ tourism administrations heads in Almaty. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The participants approved a SCO Joint Plan of Action in Tourism for 2024-2025, aimed at creating favourable conditions for a sustainable development or tourism, establishing a common tourist space, and ensuring a high quality of tourist services in the SCO member countries. Based on the results of the meeting, the participants supported the candidacy of the city of Qingdao, China, for obtaining the status of the SCO Tourist and Cultural Capital for 2024-2025.
Zhang Ming stressed in his remarks the relevance of further efforts to strengthen ties in the area of tourism in the context of cultural and humanitarian interaction and as an important factor in the SCO states’ socioeconomic development. He also said that it was important to upgrade the tourist infrastructure and industries, promote joint tourist products and routes, and simplify the issue of visas and entry/exit formalities for travelers.
While in Almaty, heads of the official delegations visited advanced tourist facilities in the city and its environs.
The Republic of Belarus took part in the meeting as an observer state.
