Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 17-18 March this year, a meeting of heads of tourism administrations of the SCO member states was held in the city of Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh, India). The meeting was also attended by a delegation led by First Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ulugbek Azamov.

The meeting reviewed the current state of national tourism networks. A detailed exchange of views also took place on the creation of new tourist destinations, improvement of logistics capabilities and measures to restore the tourist flow between the SCO countries.

The participants noted the high tourism potential of Uzbekistan. In particular, special attention was paid to the experience of our country in developing sustainable tourism in remote villages with a unique lifestyle and rich culture, tourist villages, tourist mahallas and streets, and unique crafts.

It should be noted that the meeting approved a joint action plan for the implementation of the agreement between the governments of the SCO member states on the development of cooperation in the field of tourism for 2023, as well as an action plan for the “Year of Tourism Development in the SCO Space”, put forward at the Samarkand SCO Summit on initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In addition, the delegation of Uzbekistan took part in cultural events dedicated to the announcement of the city of Varanasi as the “Cultural and Tourist Capital of the SCO”.