Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, 23 June 2026
Distinguished participants,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a great honor to address the opening of the International Conference “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries.”
At the outset, I would like to express sincere appreciation to the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan for organizing this important Conference in collaboration with the CICA Secretariat. Special gratitude is due to the Azerbaijani Chairmanship for its continued leadership and strong support in advancing tourism as a practical area of cooperation within CICA.
The Conference on Circular Green Tourism is a timely and valuable initiative of the Azerbaijani Chairmanship. It reflects a clear understanding that the future of tourism in Asia will depend increasingly on the ability of our countries to transform destinations into platforms of sustainability, local experience into shared value, cultural heritage into dialogue, and tourism cooperation into confidence building.
This is also the essence of today’s CICA Conference.
We are meeting at a time when the global tourism sector is undergoing profound change. Climate pressures, environmental degradation, digital transformation, changing travel patterns, growing competition among destinations and increasing demand for authentic and responsible experiences are reshaping traditional models of tourism development.
In such circumstances, tourism is no longer only a service sector or an economic activity. It is a strategic requirement for sustainable growth, cultural rapprochement, community development and environmental responsibility.
For CICA, tourism is also a confidence building measure.
CICA brings together 28 Member States across Asia. Our Member States have rich natural, cultural and historical assets. They include mountain regions, coastal areas, deserts, forests, rivers, heritage cities, sacred sites and ancient routes of exchange. This diversity is our strength. It enables CICA act as a bridge between regions, communities, institutions and sectors. At the same time, the full potential of tourism cooperation in Asia remains underutilized.
This is where CICA can add value as a pan-Asian platform based on dialogue, inclusiveness and consensus.
Distinguished participants,
The Azerbaijani Chairmanship of CICA has placed connectivity, digitalization and sustainable growth at the center of its vision under the motto “Stronger CICA: Connectivity, Digitalization and Sustainable Growth in Asia.”
This vision is being translated into practical initiatives in transport, logistics, finance, digitalization, media, youth engagement, environmental cooperation and tourism.
Within this framework, the project “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries” is an important element of our forward-looking agenda. It offers a practical platform to promote sustainable tourism policies, resource efficiency, local value chains, community engagement, responsible hospitality and stronger cooperation among tourism authorities and relevant stakeholders of CICA Member States.
In particular, the Secretariat was pleased to assist the Chairmanship in hosting the online event on 14 October 2025, which kicked off the Circular Green Tourism project. Organized by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, that event marked the launch and planning phase of this flagship initiative aimed at promoting sustainable, resource-efficient and environmentally responsible tourism across the CICA region.
Today’s Conference in Baku serves as the concluding stage of the project. It provides a platform for the presentation of outcomes, sharing of best practices and formulation of recommendations for further cooperation in this priority area in support of the Chairmanship priorities.
Distinguished participants,
CICA’s work on tourism cooperation is already developing across several practical directions.
In this regard, the 2025 Euro-Asia Economic Forum: CICA Regional Tourism Cooperation Conference, held in Xi’an on September 2025, was an important contribution to the exchange of practical experience among Member States.
CICA also promotes trust through people-to-people interaction with diplomatic missions and international partners. Initiatives such as the CICA Ski Tour and CICA Bicycle Tour, organized in different tourism destinations, show that shared experiences in nature, sport and cultural settings can complement formal diplomacy, raise environmental awareness and showcase the tourism potential of host countries.
Tourism also depends on visibility, communication and trust. Responsible media, social media platforms, digital applications and other communication tools can promote green destinations, highlight cultural heritage, support local communities, encourage sustainable travel and give visibility to successful cooperation initiatives across the CICA region. The CICA Secretariat has also contributed to this effort through publications such as the “Tourist Guidebook and Recipes of the CICA Region” and the “Ecotourism Guide of the CICA Region,” which help raise awareness of the tourism, cultural and natural diversity of Member States.
Distinguished participants,
Tourism also requires active communities and engaged citizens. Sustainable destinations cannot be built only through infrastructure, policy and investment. They also require people, especially young people, who are ready to contribute to hospitality, cultural promotion, environmental awareness and public service.
This is why the upcoming Side Event on Best Practices in Volunteerism in CICA Member States and Photo Exhibition, planned to be held on the margins of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York in July 2026, is closely linked to the subject of our Conference.
The side event, to be organized by the Republic of Kazakhstan with the support of the CICA Chairmanship and the Secretariat and in cooperation with the United Nations Volunteers, will promote volunteerism as a confidence building measure, present national experiences and strengthen cooperation among CICA Member States, the United Nations system and relevant stakeholders.
Azerbaijan’s experience is particularly relevant in this regard. The “Tourism Volunteers” Organization under the State Tourism Agency is a practical example of how youth can be engaged in tourism, gain professional experience, support national and international events, and contribute to the promotion of cultural and natural heritage.
I would like to encourage CICA Member States to actively contribute to the volunteerism side event in New York and to share their best practices, including in tourism, culture, environment and youth engagement.
Distinguished participants,
Legislative work also has an important role in supporting circular and green tourism. Practical initiatives in tourism can be more effective when they are backed by appropriate policy and legal frameworks, including in the areas of environmental protection, responsible use of natural resources, green tourism and sustainable development.
This was also reflected during the Secretariat’s participation in the 11th Meeting of the TURKPA Commission on Environment, Natural Resources and Health Protection, held in Ankara in May this year, which underlined the relevance of parliamentary dialogue and legislative cooperation for sustainable tourism and coastal wellness.
This demonstrates that green tourism, environmental policy, legislative experience, regional partnerships and practical cooperation are increasingly connected.
Distinguished participants,
The Circular Green Tourism Conference reminds us that tourism can be both a challenge and an opportunity. For local communities, tourism means income and employment. For small businesses, it means access to markets. For young people, it means skills and engagement. For countries, it means cultural diplomacy and sustainable development. For all countries, it means deeper cooperation and greater trust.
The ancient Silk Road connected peoples, markets, cultures and ideas. Today, we need a modern tourism Silk Road of sustainability, digital innovation, responsible communication, community value and environmental protection.
Under the Chairmanship of the Republic of Azerbaijan, CICA stands ready to work with Member States, partner organizations, tourism institutions and the private sector to advance this agenda. I am confident that the discussions here will contribute to practical steps for promoting circular green tourism more effectively and strengthening sustainable development across the wider CICA region.
Allow me once again to express appreciation to the Republic of Azerbaijan and the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan for hosting this important Conference and to all participants for their commitment to dialogue and cooperation.
I wish the International Conference “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries” every success.
Thank you for your attention.
