At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, three sites of the ECO region were officially inscribed, marking Iran’s 29th, Tajikistan’s 5th, and Türkiye’s 22nd World Heritage Site.
Prehistoric Sites of the Khorramabad Valley, Islamic Republic of Iran, as the first proven human habitat in the world, dating back over 65,000 years;
Cultural Heritage Sites of Ancient Khuttal, Republic of Tajikistan, reflecting its role from the 7th to 16th centuries in the Silk Roads trade, and served as a hub for cultural, religious, and technological exchanges;
Sardis and the Lydian Tumuli of Bin Tepe, Republic of Turkiye, as the city with a unique urban structure, and the cemetery of Bin Tepe features some of the largest tumulus tombs in the world;
These registrations represent not only a remarkable and unprecedented event for the countries but also for the ECO region as a whole. With a total of 82 World Heritage Sites, the ECO region continues to offer vast opportunities for tourism development and socio-economic growth.
The Regional Tourism Market Symposium took place from 13 to 15 May 2025 on the picturesque Kish Island, Islamic Republic of Iran. This significant gathering brings together tourism stakeholders from ECO Member States to foster regional cooperation, share innovative practices, and promote sustainable growth in the tourism sector across the region. The event was officially inaugurated today with keynote addresses by Ambassador Dr. Asad M. Khan, the ECO Secretary General and H.E. Mr. Seyed Reza Salehi Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
In his speech, Ambassador Khan emphasized the region’s rich cultural heritage, remarkable tourism potential, and the shared commitment of ECO Member States to advancing sustainable and inclusive tourism development. He highlighted recent achievements, including record-breaking tourist arrivals, regional branding initiatives such as the ECO Tourism Capitals, and collaborative efforts to diversify tourism offerings.
Minister Salehi Amiri underscored the importance of international cooperation for tourism development and shared insights into Iran’s national policies and progress in the tourism industry.
Attendees include high-level officials, industry leaders, tour operators, hospitality professionals, and representatives from various sectors across the ECO region. The event featured a series of engaging workshops and training sessions focused on hotel and hospitality management, aimed at strengthening human resource capacities and improving service standards.
Throughout the symposium, participants explored opportunities for cooperation among stakeholders and learn about best practices in tourism and hospitality services. The symposium also served as a platform to foster new partnerships and investment prospects within the region.
The 6th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Tourism convened on 26 April 2025 in Erzurum, the ECO Tourism Capital for 2025. The gathering brought together tourism leaders from nine ECO Member States to discuss regional tourism cooperation and development strategies. ECO Secretariat also attended the meeting as well as the representatives of ECO Observers, the Organization of Turkic States and Turkish Cypriot State.
The meeting commenced with opening remarks by ECO Secretary General Ambassador Asad Majeed Khan, who emphasized the vital role of tourism in regional integration and highlighted ECO’s ongoing tourism cooperation initiatives. H.E. Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye, outlined Türkiye’s current progress and strategic plans for advancing its tourism industry.
The ministers also approved the selection of Lahore from Pakistan, as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2027, Mary from Turkmenistan for 2028 and Karakol for 2029, recognizing their rich cultural heritage and tourism potential. Discussions further encompassed the progress of tourism cooperation under ECO framework and deliberations on formulating the tourism-related components of ECO’s new strategic vision for the next decade.
A significant milestone of the meeting was the official launch of the 1st Edition of the ECO Tourism Investment Guide, aimed at attracting investment and promoting tourism opportunities within the ECO region. The meeting concluded with the unanimous adoption of the “Erzurum Declaration,” outlining collective commitments with the decisions taken and future directions for regional tourism cooperation.
The 294th Meeting of the ECO Council of Permanent Representatives (CPR) was held today at the Punjab Civil Secretariat in Lahore, Pakistan. The gathering marked a significant milestone as the first CPR meeting to take place in Lahore and the second hosted outside the ECO Secretariat in Tehran.
Inaugurating the meeting, the Additional Chief Secretary of Punjab, Mr. Ahmed Raza Sarwar, warmly welcomed the delegates to the historic and culturally rich city of Lahore. The Secretary of the Tourism, Archaeology and Museums Department, Mr. Farid Ahmad Tarar, also addressed the participants, highlighting Lahore’s profound historical legacy and presenting its candidacy as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2027.
ECO Secretary General Dr. Asad M. Khan, along with other eminent participants, extended heartfelt appreciation to the Government of Punjab for its warm hospitality and the valuable opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of Lahore in person.
The Session brought together distinguished Permanent Representatives and delegates from ECO Member States to deliberate on a number of key issues, including among others the preparations for the upcoming 17th ECO Summit in Azerbaijan, review of the Plan of Work for implementing the Mashhad Communique, discussions on the formulation of ECO Vision 2035, the High-Level Committee (HLC) report and criteria for selecting the ECO Tourism Capital.
The context of hosting the CPR meeting in Lahore is part of Pakistan’s broader initiative to launch its campaign for declaring Lahore as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2027, an effort aimed at showcasing the city’s cultural and historical prominence to the ECO community.
The full text of the approved ECO Tourism Capital Selection Criteria can be reached below.
ECO Secretary General, Ambassador Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, and staff from the ECO Tourism Directorate participated in the 18th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industries Exhibition, which commenced in Tehran on 11 February 2025.
On the sidelines of the exhibition, Secretary General Dr. Khan held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Dr. Seyed Reza Saleh Amiri, Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts of the Islamic Republic of Iran. During their discussion, the two sides exchanged views on future activities and initiatives in the tourism sector within the ECO framework.
Secretary General Khan emphasized that tourism, along with trade and transport, is a key priority for ECO, and noted that tourism cooperation within the organization can significantly contribute to enhancing economic ties. Minister Amiri highlighted Iran’s active role in hosting ECO activities in areas such as health tourism and gastronomy tourism, and reiterated Iran’s commitment to further contributing to the region’s tourism efforts.
Additionally, Dr. Khan attended the unveiling of the poster for the 3rd ECO Confobition on Health Tourism, scheduled for 11-13 June 2025. This event is planned to be hosted in collaboration with the city of Hamedan. Secretary General Khan also held productive meetings with the local authorities, including Mr. Hamid-Reza Haji Babaee, Vice President of Parliament and Mr. Hamid Mullanouri Shamsi, Governor of Hamedan, to discuss the upcoming event and future tourism collaborations.
Erzurum officially kicked off its year as the ECO Tourism Capital 2025 with the opening of the Winter Games, the first major international event in the city’s celebration. The ceremony began with a vibrant cortege walk, starting from Havuzbaşı City Square and making its way to the iconic Twin Minaret Madrasa.
The festive procession, featuring a performance by the Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mehter Team, was accompanied by a 100-meter-long giant flag, offering a spectacular visual display for the participants. The ceremony culminated in front of the Twin Minaret Madrasa, marking the start of a series of events aimed at strengthening cultural and economic ties across the region.
In his speech, Mr. Muharrem Çığlık, Coordinator of the ECO Tourism Capital 2025, remarked: “Erzurum truly deserves the title of ECO Tourism Capital with its strong infrastructure and rich cultural and natural assets. We are confident that Erzurum, which will hold this prestigious title throughout 2025, will emerge as an important international hub, attracting attention for its winter tourism potential and cultural heritage. This event will not only promote our city but also enhance cooperation and foster stronger friendships among the ECO member states. We are proud to support Erzurum in this significant journey.”
The Mayor of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality, Mr. Mehmet Sekmen, emphasized the historic significance of the occasion, stating: “Today, we are adding a new page to Erzurum’s rich history. Our city, with its deep-rooted history, vast culture, and unique natural beauty, is not only one of Turkey’s ancient cities, but also a gem of the world. We are honored to crown this heritage by bestowing upon Erzurum the title of ‘ECO Tourism Capital 2025’.”
Governor of Erzurum, Mr. Mustafa Çiftçi, highlighted the city’s dual recognition, noting: “In addition to being named the ECO Tourism Capital, Erzurum has also been recognized as the European Winter Sports Capital. The Winter Games will host 400 athletes from 17 countries, and over the course of 2025, we will organize 70 different events to showcase Erzurum’s potential and its role as a global winter sports and tourism destination.”
The ceremony concluded with the lighting of the Winter Games Torch by the protocol, followed by the greeting from young representatives of ECO member countries, who spoke in their native languages, adding to the spirit of unity and cooperation.
As we approach the end of another successful year, on behalf of the ECO Secretariat the Tourism Directorate team would like to extend our heartfelt wishes for a Happy New Year to all of the stakeholders in the ECO Member States.
The unwavering support and dedication of all of our partners have been instrumental in our achievements, and we are deeply grateful for their collaboration. May the coming year be filled with happiness, prosperity, and continued success for all of us.
We look forward to ongoing collaboration and the exciting opportunities that 2025 will bring.
The 3rd Meeting of the ECO Tourism and Transport Task Force was held virtually on 24 December 2024, bringing together stakeholders from the ECO Member States to discuss cooperation initiatives aimed at enhancing connectivity and facilitating the flow of tourists within the region. The meeting focused particularly on the development of passenger transport, addressing both current status and challenges and future opportunities in the sector.
The meeting was attended by the officials from relevant institutions of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan, as well as representatives from the ECO Secretariat, including the Directorates of Tourism and Transport and Communications.
Key discussions at the meeting included the status of aviation connectivity between ECO Member States, with an emphasis on the expansion of flight routes and the increasing ease of cross-border travel. Participants highlighted that the growth of tourism in recent years has been significantly driven by the introduction of new flight routes and simplified border procedures. Furthermore, the prospects for expanding rail and road transport as alternative modes of passenger travel were explored.
The meeting also suggested for considering the possibility of holding bilateral and multilateral meetings to explore detailed proposals for infrastructure and route development, border facilitation and the multilateral liberalization of air transport within the ECO region.
Another topic raised during the meeting was the enhancement of the newly launched ECO Tourism Website, with a particular focus on adding content related to travel information. Member States were invited to share their views on how to improve the website’s offerings and make it a more comprehensive resource for tourists and tourism professionals alike.
Rasht National Gastronomy Festival was held on 18-19 December 2024 in Rasht city, Gilan province of Iran with participation of ambassadors of Asian Cooperation Dialogue’ Member States and the representatives of international and regional organizations, including the ECO Secretariat. The city is known as a city of firsts in Iran, and its designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015 is a testament to its rich culinary heritage. The attendees experienced local foods and explored the tourism potential of the city during the event.
At the meeting with participation of Mayor of Rasht city Mr Rahim Shoghi and City Council Chairman Mr.Kargarnia organized on the sidelines of the event, the representatives of the ECO proposed City Administration to host the next Eco Silk Road Food Festival, emphasizing the city’s rich culinary heritage and its potential to attract food enthusiasts from around the world. They also encouraged local authorities to provide inputs for an ECO Tourism Website, suggesting that unique aspects of Rasht’s culture and attractions be featured to enhance its visibility as a sustainable travel destination.
The meeting highlights the local authorities’ dedication to enhancing the tourism industry while simultaneously boosting the local economy through responsible tourism.
The ECO Secretariat is pleased to announce the calendar of events for Erzurum, Türkiye, the esteemed recipient of the title ECO Tourism Capital for 2025. This recognition builds on the legacy of the ECO Tourism Capitals initiative, which launched in 2020 and has since celebrated the diverse cultural heritage and natural attractions of various cities across the ECO region.
Erzurum is set to follow the distinguished path established by Shahrisabz, Uzbekistan, as the next city to showcase its unique offerings throughout the year. This remarkable city, rich in history and natural beauty, is poised to welcome visitors from around the globe, particularly winter sports enthusiasts and nature lovers.
In line with our commitment to promote tourism, enhance local hospitality, and foster international partnerships, we are excited to unveil an engaging lineup of events, including the Winter Games, World Snowboard Cup, Gastronomy Festival, TV Series Festival, International Cycling Tour, and the Palandoken Economic Forum, scheduled for the upcoming year. Additionally, Erzurum will host the 6th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Tourism, along with the Official Inauguration Ceremony, which will take place in April 2025.
Erzurum ECO Tourism Capital 2025
Join us in celebrating Erzurum, which also holds the title of European Capital of Winter Sports for 2025. For more information about the events, please visit the ECO Tourism website at tourism.eco.int or follow us on our social media channels.
