Shusha Hosts 7th ECO Tourism Ministerial Meeting, Adopts Shusha Declaration
Shusha, The Gulf Observer: The 7th Ministerial Meeting on Tourism of the Economic Cooperation Organization was held on April 29 in the historic city of Shusha, bringing together tourism ministers and delegations from ECO member states.
The meeting was organized as part of the “Shusha – ECO Tourism Capital for 2026” initiative, underscoring the city’s growing prominence as a regional tourism hub.
Addressing the gathering, Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan, highlighted the symbolic significance of hosting ECO events in Shusha. He noted that the city has emerged as one of Azerbaijan’s leading tourism destinations due to its rich cultural and historical heritage. Naghiyev further emphasized that ECO member states constitute a significant share of tourists visiting Azerbaijan, attributing this to deep-rooted historical, cultural, and ethnic ties among the countries.
In his remarks, Asad Majeed Khan, Secretary General of ECO, stressed the importance of adopting sustainable tourism practices, enhancing cooperation in tourism education, and increasing private sector participation. He noted that joint initiatives among member states would play a vital role in advancing regional tourism development.
The discussions focused on diversifying tourism offerings and promoting ecotourism through the development of regional routes, aiming to unlock new opportunities across the ECO region.
Participants also approved the outcomes of the 9th Meeting of the High-Level Expert Group on Tourism. A key highlight of the ministerial session was the adoption of the “Shusha Declaration,” which outlines future priorities for strengthening cooperation in the tourism sector among ECO member states.
During the meeting, the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan was selected as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2030.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to fostering sustainable, inclusive, and cooperative tourism development across the ECO region.
