【Record】Mr. Jonon Sherali, SCO Deputy Secretary-General delivers a speech at the opening ceremony

Mr. Jonon Sherali, SCO Deputy Secretary-General, delivers a speech at the opening ceremony

Mr. Jonon Sherali:

Dear Mr. Hu Heping Minister of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China,

Dear Chairman of the World Tourism Cities Federation Council and Mayor of Beijing Mr. Chen Jining,

Dear Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Mr. Zurab Pololikashvili,

Dear participants of the Conference,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I cordially welcome participants of the Conference and express my gratitude to our partner – World Tourism Cities Federation for organizing this important international event, which, I am sure, will be held at the highest level.

We are pleased to note excellent cooperation between SCO Secretariat and WTCF based on the MoU and we believe that the brighter days of our fruitful joint work on facilitating cultural contacts and tourism are ahead.

Unfortunately, the modern world from the very beginning of 2020 to the present day continues to live in difficult conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has caused unprecedented economic damage to almost all countries of the world.

According to experts from UNWTO and UNCTAD, tourism was one of the most affected sectors of the economy due to the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of falling demand for international travel could lead to the loss of between 850 million and 1.1 billion international tourists. Revenue losses range from $ 910 billion to $ 1.2 trillion. Job losses are estimated at between 100 and 120 million. The current crisis in international tourism has become the worst since 1950, when the first statistical estimates appeared.

The recovery of the tourism industry after the pandemic will be possible only after lifting of quarantine and other restrictions on freedom of movement and economic activity, while taking the strictest security measures and ensuring the health of the population of countries.

In this regard I want to refer to the UNWTO 28 May 2020 "Global Guidelines to Restart Tourism", which indicates priority tasks providing necessary actions to be taken by all responsible structures and bodies in order to promote safe tourism.

The tourism industry can become a driver of economic recovery, restoration of the "pre- pandemic" level of the economy and its subsequent growth. In this regard, it can be noted that the SCO Member States implement various programs to support the economy as a whole and its most affected sectors, such as tourism, transportation of all types, hotel business, etc.

The pandemic has created great difficulties and problems for all countries. At the same time, it is clear that new opportunities are emerging. The example of China shows how successfully the tourism industry can be developed using modern technologies by providing "contactless" services such as virtual tours, "cloud exhibitions", etc. It is important that innovations can improve the tourist environment and increase the overall level of development of tourist facilities in our countries.

On May 22, 2020, the Heads of tourism administrations of the SCO Member States approved a Joint Action Plan for cooperation in the field of tourism for the period 2021- 2022, which, I am sure, will give a new impetus to cooperation and interaction between the parties.

Dear participants of the Conference,

The SCO has all the opportunities to become one of the world's economic centers, which will lead to positive changes in the development of tourism as well. The total GDP of the SCO Member States in 2019 amounted to 22.5% of the global figure (18.4 trillion US dollars) and by 2030 may reach 35-40% of the world GDP.

According to expert estimates, by 2030, China and India will take leading positions among the top ten economies in the world. According to the international Bank "Standard Chartered", by 2030, the GDP of the world's top 10 economies will amount to 190 trillion US dollars, of which 60% will be accounted for by China, India and Russia.

In order to promote the country tourism brand of the SCO Member States, the concept of the "Eight Wonders of the SCO" series of events is being successfully implemented, which is aimed at demonstrating the cultural diversity and tourism potential of the SCO.

The SCO Secretariat has established relations with UNWTO on the basis of a signed Memorandum of Understanding.

The potential for tourism development between our countries is very significant. The list of monuments of the tangible and intangible world heritage of UNESCO includes 143 objects from the SCO Member States.

The "Eight Wonders of the SCO" Project first presented in June 2019, is a series of thematic presentations initiated by the SCO Secretariat on tourism issues with the participation of representatives of diplomatic and trade missions, agencies of the SCO Member States in the field of tourism, travel companies, tour operators, as well as other relevant mechanisms of the Organization. The goal of this Project is to present widely the tourism resources, programs, cultural and creative products and the culture of tourism features of the SCO Member States through the presentation of national wonders of the eight Member States.

The Project was developed by the SCO Secretariat and supported by the Organization's Member States. It is aimed at creating a single tourist space and is being implemented in accordance with relevant decisions of the Qingdao 2018 SCO Summit.

The "Eight Wonders of the SCO" Project has become a milestone in the history of the SCO, demonstrating the organization's dynamic practical activities aimed at strengthening socio-economic ties between Member States, Observer States, Dialogue Partners as well as all interested parties. I would like to note in this regard that the international trade building and the pavilion of “the Eight Wonders of the SCO” project have already been built on the territory of the Demonstration Zone of Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation in Qingdao, as a contribution of our Chinese friends to the common cause.

It is planned to hold presentations of the "Eight Wonders of the SCO" Project in all SCO countries and those ones located along the "Belt and Road Initiative". I can note that before the pandemic, active work was carried out on its implementation and presentations were successfully held in St. Petersburg, Helsinki, and Dushanbe. Special attention is paid to presentations in China and they were held in Beijing and Xi’an. We will also hold presentations in other cities of China.

Despite the fact that the pandemic has made its own adjustments, we believe that travelers from the countries of the SCO large family will continue to be the most active tourists, which will allow us to revive strong cultural and humanitarian ties and contacts between our countries and peoples.

Dear participants of the Conference,

In conclusion, I would like to express my firm hope that the commitment of the SCO Member States to the "Shanghai spirit" will allow us all to come out of this difficult situation with honor and become even stronger and more united. I wish great success to the participants of the Conference!

Thank you for your attention.