CICA signals new push with Azerbaijan to revitalise Silk Road tourism

The Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, is ready to advance circular “green tourism” across Asia, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay stated.

Speaking at the “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries” conference in Baku, Sarybay said the event serves as a reminder of the dual nature of tourism, which can represent both a challenge and an opportunity, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He noted that for local communities, tourism is a source of income and jobs; for small businesses, it opens access to new markets; for young people, it provides skills and engagement; for states, it serves as a tool of cultural diplomacy and sustainable development; and for entire regions, it strengthens cooperation and mutual trust.

Sarybay also emphasised the historical role of the Silk Road, saying it connected peoples, markets, cultural traditions, and ideas.

“Today, a renewed tourist Silk Road is needed, based on the principles of sustainability, digital innovation, responsible engagement, value creation for local populations and environmental protection. Under Azerbaijan’s chairmanship, CICA is ready to cooperate with member states, partner organisations, tourism institutions and representatives of the private sector to promote this agenda,” Sarybay added.

The “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries” conference is scheduled for June 23–24, 2026, in Baku, organised by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan in collaboration with the CICA Secretariat.

It serves as the final implementation stage of a project launched under Azerbaijan’s CICA Chairmanship (2024–2026) and aims to foster policy dialogue, best-practice exchanges, and regional cooperation on embedding circular economy principles into tourism.

By Jeyhun Aghazada