India currently holds the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). A unified action plan for developing tourism collaboration between SCO member countries will be adopted during TMM, according to a statement from the ministry of tourism.
The second meeting of the Tourism Expert Working Group took place before the TMM on March 14 and 15. Prior to its adoption at the SCO Tourism Ministers’ meeting on March 17, the dignitaries will discuss and finalize their unified action plan during their meeting.
“The Joint Action Plan to be discussed during the 2nd EWG meeting will include actions relating to the Promotion of the SCO tourism brand, the Promotion of the cultural heritage of the SCO Member States in tourism, Sharing and Exchange of information and digital technology in tourism, promoting of mutual cooperation in medical and health tourism, improving the quality of services,” the Ministry of Tourism said.
The Ministry of Tourism has planned a number of events as part of the tourism track activities under India’s chairmanship, including the SCO Tourism Mart during South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange (SATTE), the SCO Expert Level Tourism Working Group Meeting, the SCO Tourism Minister’s Meeting in Kashi (Varanasi), and the SCO Food Festival in Mumbai.
The eight SCO members account for 25% of the world’s gross domestic product and about 42% of the world’s population (GDP). The region, according to the ministry, has enormous potential that may be realized by raising awareness among SCO nations.
According to a news release from the Ministry of Tourism, there are 207 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the collective cultural heritage of the SCO member nations, observers, and partners. The SCO member countries have chosen to designate one city (from SCO member countries) as the tourism and cultural capital each year as part of a rotational effort in order to highlight this distinctive product of the region. Kashi (Varanasi) has been chosen as the SCO’s first cultural capital as part of this programme.
Notably, the SCO was established on June 15, 2001, in Shanghai as an intergovernmental association. The SCO currently comprises eight countries – China, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, four Observer States interested in acceding to full membership – Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran, and Mongolia as well as six Dialogue Partners – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Cambodia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.
About 42% of the world’s people and 25% of the world’s GDP are represented by the eight SCO members. The member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have agreed to designate one city as their annual tourism and cultural capital in an effort to highlight this distinctive product of the region. The statement added, “It is interesting to mention that Kashi (Varanasi) has been designated as the first cultural capital of the SCO under this initiative,”
Source: PIB Government of India
