From September 19-21, the State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan participated in the International Forum on the Development of Culture and Tourism of Silk Road Cities and the Annual Conference of the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities, held in Kunming, China.

The event marked the first anniversary of the International Tourism Alliance of Silk Road Cities, focusing on strengthening cooperation along the Silk Road and promoting sustainable tourism development.

During the alliance's annual meeting, Murad Aghabeyli, Chairman of the Management Board of the State Tourism Agency’s Reserves Management Center, emphasized the importance of supporting sustainable tourism development along the historic Silk Road. He discussed Azerbaijan’s tourism prospects, highlighting that enhancing collaboration and exchanging experiences with member cities would contribute to local communities and the overall growth of the Silk Road tourism corridor. He also provided an in-depth presentation on Azerbaijan’s efforts to preserve and promote Sheki’s Silk Road heritage under the management of the Reserves Management Center.

The International Forum on the Development of Culture and Tourism of Silk Road Cities covered key topics such as digital tourism, cultural heritage preservation, and the role of tourism in economic growth and cultural exchange. Panel sessions and business meetings featured presentations on Sheki’s role as a Silk Road heritage site and the UNESCO-listed "Yukhari Bash" National Historical-Architectural Reserve.

The forum gathered officials from UN Tourism, the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, as well as mayors and tourism experts from Silk Road cities. As a key platform for sharing best practices and exploring new collaboration opportunities, the event also included the First Culture and Tourism Season of Silk Road Cities, cultural activities, and familiarization tours of the host city.