The 7th Meeting of Tourism Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was held on 29 April in the city of Shusha.

Organised within the framework of the “Shusha – ECO Tourism Capital 2026” programme, the meeting brought together tourism ministers and delegations from ECO member states.

In his address, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency Fuad Naghiyev highlighted the particular symbolic importance of hosting ECO events in Shusha, noting that the city, with its rich cultural and historical heritage, stands out as one of Azerbaijan’s leading tourism destinations.

Fuad Naghiyev also emphasised that a significant share of tourists visiting Azerbaijan come from ECO member countries, and that this continued interest stems from the common historical, cultural and ethnic ties shared among the nations.

Speaking at the meeting, ECO Secretary General Asad Majeed Khan stressed the importance of adopting sustainable approaches to regional tourism development, expanding cooperation in tourism education, increasing private sector engagement and implementing joint initiatives.

He noted that efforts in these areas would contribute to strengthening relations among member states, unlocking tourism potential more effectively and ensuring the sustainable development of the sector.

Discussions held during the meeting focused on tourism diversification, the promotion of ecotourism, the development of regional routes and the advancement of joint initiatives among member countries.

Within the framework of the meeting, the outcomes of the 9th Meeting of the High-Level Experts Group on Tourism were presented and approved. In addition, a compilation of best practices in ecotourism and a policy document on tourism diversification were introduced.

As one of the key outcomes of the meeting, the “Shusha Declaration”, outlining future priorities for cooperation in the field of tourism among member states, was adopted.

During the meeting, the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, was designated as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2030.