The city of Shahrisabz was chosen as the tourism capital of the EO in 2024

The city of Shahrisabz was chosen as the tourist capital of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in 2024.  This decision was made following the results of the fourth meeting of tourism ministers of the OIC countries, which was held online on 13 December.  This was reported by the ECO press service.

The meeting was opened by Aziz Abduhakimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.  Abduhakimov noted that tourism serves as the strongest bridge uniting the peoples of the region by adding cultural traditions.

In turn, IHT General Secretary Khusrav Noziri noted that the tourism sector is included among the priority directions of development in the organization's plans for 2025.  According to him, there are 74 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the ECO region.

The Secretary General of the ECO noted that the simplification of border crossing procedures for foreign tourists, easing, and liberalization of the visa regime will serve the development of the tourism industry in the entire region.

The participants of the meeting adopted the "Roadmap" for the rapid recovery of tourism after COVID-19 in the ECO region as a general basis for cooperation between the member states, as well as for the promotion of safe and sustainable development of Uzbekistan.  The cities of Shahrisabz and Erzurum in Turkey have been selected as the capital of ECO tourism in 2024 and 2025.

Also, the Samarkand declaration on cooperation in the field of tourism was adopted and announced.

The next 5th meeting of ECO tourism ministers will be held in Ardabil, Iran in 2023.