On 26 July 2021, a five-day seminar on the integrative development of culture and tourism for the SCO member states started its work via videoconference. The seminar was organised by the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China.
The seminar's programme includes a course of lectures on analysing tourists' behaviour during international travel, a business revival and advancement strategy in the COVID-19 environment, and training specialists on tourism in the SCO countries.
SCO Deputy Secretary-General Muratbek Azymbakiev delivered a welcoming address to the participants on behalf of SCO Secretary-General Vladimir Norov.
Mr Norov's message focused on the impact of the pandemic on the tourism industry in all SCO countries and the need for coordinated efforts to revive this economic sector as soon as possible.
He stressed the importance of the 2022-2023 Plan of Joint Actions for SCO cooperation in the area of tourism under the new conditions, which was signed at the Meeting of Heads of SCO Tourism Administrations on 15 July 2021.
In the context of the seminar's theme, the SCO Secretary-General noted that aligning the member states' national development strategies and initiatives is in line with the SCO's objectives and principles. The documents of the latest SCO summits invariably stress that the member states will consistently build up their efforts to promote joint efforts aimed at forming a broad-based, open, mutually beneficial and equitable partnership in the SCO space.
The seminar is attended by nearly 40 representatives of tourism administrations, research institutes and travel agents from the SCO member states.