Tourist Safety and Development of Mutual Tourism Flows: IPA CIS Discussed New Cooperation Mechanisms

A strategic meeting on interstate cooperation and assistance to tourists in emergency situations was held at the Tavricheskiy Palace. Experts discussed advanced national practices for ensuring the safety of tourists from the CIS Member States and their impact on increasing tourist flows.

The event was held as part of the international tourism project Travel Hub "Commonwealth" and brought together representatives of relevant ministries, government agencies, emergency response authorities, and tourism organizations.

Participants discussed mechanisms for cooperation and coordination that would ensure prompt assistance to tourists travelling within the Commonwealth in the event of emergencies.

Head of the Organizational Directorate of the IPA CIS Council Secretariat Diana Survilaite announced plans to establish a special Working Group on Tourism Safety in the CIS, bringing together representatives of tourism authorities, emergency and rescue services, national tourism administrations, and professional non-governmental organizations responsible for tourism safety. The Working Group will work to develop common principles for cooperation and coordination in providing assistance to travellers during emergencies.

Secretary of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Culture, Information, Tourism and Sport and Executive Secretary of the IPA CIS Expert Advisory Board on Culture Igor Minin noted the Assembly's readiness to provide a platform for drafting a document that could subsequently be reflected in the legislation of the Commonwealth states and serve as guidance for organizations operating in the tourism sector.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants endorsed the initiative to establish a Working Group on Tourism Safety, comprising representatives of the relevant authorities and organizations of the CIS Member States.

The experts also agreed to propose that the IPA CIS Council Secretariat include in the Assembly's long-term model lawmaking plan the preparation of recommendations and principles for cooperation among the CIS Member States in responding to emergency situations. Representatives of the tourism sector expressed their readiness to present the rationale for and relevance of such a document at the meeting of the IPA CIS Permanent Commission on Culture, Information, Tourism and Sport, to be held in Tashkent on 22-23 October.

The participants noted that interstate cooperation in providing assistance to tourists during emergencies, as well as the harmonization of safety standards, requires a comprehensive approach involving not only tourism authorities but also organizations responsible for public safety and emergency response.

The participants emphasized that safe tourism is one of the key factors contributing to national security.