Kyrgyzstan was cited as an example at the global tourism forum in Russia
The prospects for developing cooperation were discussed during the high-level Forum on medical and wellness tourism in St. Petersburg. It became a key event of the 23rd session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), which took place in this city at the Tauride Palace from September 9 to 13.
Such sessions are the largest events for the global tourism industry; this one gathered about 1500 delegates from 158 countries, including Kyrgyzstan. Alongside this session, the second travel forum, Saint Petersburg Travel Hub, took place, featuring over 10 discussion sessions and round tables on relevant industry development topics, such as promoting medical and wellness tourism, international cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, utilizing the tourism potential of regions, and more.
In his address to the attendees, the Secretary General, head of the Secretariat of the Interparliamentary Assembly (IPA) of the CIS, Dmitry Kobitsky, noted that the IPA not only develops new model laws in the field of tourism but also implements important social projects that contribute to the development of this sector. As an example, he cited the international cultural and educational forum "Children of the Commonwealth," which the IPA regularly holds at Lake Issyk-Kul at the initiative of the Kyrgyz Republic.
“We gather children from different Commonwealth countries in a camp, and they communicate, exchange opinions, and present information about their states and the places they consider worth visiting. This not only unites adults but also children, which is a priority for us today, as it helps preserve the Russian language not only among the adult population but also among children and youth,” said Dmitry Kobitsky. He reminded those present that Russian is the working language of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.
In his report, Kobitsky emphasized the importance of harmonizing national legislations of CIS countries in the field of tourism as one of the fundamental conditions for the development of this sector. “Tourism is not just about crossing borders, attending events, and participating in various activities. Tourism involves issues related to safety, preserving cultural heritage, and complying with customs procedures. The laws developed by the CIS IPA contribute to addressing these issues,” stated the Secretary General of this international organization.
