“Our joint work on placing the Silk Road as an internationally renowned and seamless cultural tourism route is proving to be very positive. In countries all along the Silk Road, there is growing awareness of tourism’s contribution to cultural preservation, regional cohesion, and intercultural understanding ... Cross-country tourism projects are growing, and the interest of trade and consumers in the Silk Road continues to rise”
UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pollikashvili
The 8th UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting held recently, focused on the long-term tourism vision for the historic Silk Road routes and how to establish the Silk Road as the most important transnational tourism route of the 21st century. UNWTO’s work around the Silk Road aims to maximize the benefits of tourism development for local Silk Road communities, while stimulating investment and promoting the conservation of the route's natural and cultural heritage. It was agreed that while Silk Road destinations stand to benefit from the growth of international tourism, sustainability and trans-border cooperation need to take priority.
The meeting also presented an opportunity to launch the research study: Tourism Impact of the 21st century Maritime Silk Road.
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