Alliance members agree to enhance tourism
Tourism ministers from member states of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation will further enhance ties related to travel product development, tourist security and research on hi-tech tourism management to build a “smart tourism” system, according to a draft action plan issued on May 9.
The tourism ministers’ conference of the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation opened that day in Wuhan, Hubei province.
It was the first meeting of SCO tourism ministers since the organisation was established in Shanghai in 2001.
The delegation leaders passed the draft of their 2019-20 Joint Action Plan for implementing an outline of tourism co-operation among the organisation’s member states.
The draft was adopted at the organisation’s 2-day summit in Qingdao, Shandong province, which ended on June 10.
“International collaboration in tourism is promising, which has received more agreement than disagreement from the member states involved,” said Li Jinzao, viceminister of culture and tourism.
“Tourism exchange should thus be regarded as one of the key elements of bilateral or multilateral co-operation.”
The organisation has become a more comprehensive regional entity since India and Pakistan joined last year.
“The total population of the organisation’s member states amounts to nearly half the world’s population. The rich tourism resources in these countries, whether the natural scenery or distinctive cultures, will unleash the potential of tourism development and highlight the countries’ importance in world tourism,” Mr Li said.
Tourism delegations of organisation member states, including India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, have introduced their countries’ tourism development and proposed deepening co-operation on tourism exchanges with other member states.
“Developing tourism is an important way to enhance the friendship among different countries, which is also a way to help people understand different cultures,” said Aziz Nosirov, SCO deputy secretary-general.