Approved by Senior Officials Committee on 20 February 2009
Introduction
To foster international cooperation, the Member States of the Conference of the Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA), in the short span of its activity, has elaborated certain guidelines and principles for the voluntary participation of the Member States in implementation of confidence building measures within the framework of the international cooperation that positively influences on strengthening an atmosphere of peace and friendship. In the context of international cooperation one of the important priorities within the CICA framework is cooperation in the area of tourism.
In contemporary conditions, the sphere of tourism, as a significant sector for interaction among the states, is a factor of contributing to global integration processes and also a way of boosting foreign economic relations. The tourism promotes development of international links, trade exchange, transportations, insurance operations, services dealing with capital investments, scientific and technical, as well as cultural ties, information and consultation services, which stimulates public diplomacy that in turn promotes convergence among the peoples and their cultures.
Keeping in view the above factors of tourism that positively reflect on the development of states, the adoption of concept paper on cooperation among the CICA Member States in the area of tourism, which can stimulate confidence building measures among the states, deserves a special evaluation.
In accordance with the Catalogue of the CICA CBMs accepted at the meeting of Ministers for Foreign Affairs of CICA in October, 2004, and the Cooperative Approach for the implementation of the CICA CBMs approved by the meeting of the Senior Officials Committee in March, 2007, the Republic of Tajikistan took the initiative on coordination of confidence building measures on cooperation among the CICA Member States in the area of tourism.
The present Concept Paper presents purposes, principles, basic directions and approaches within the framework of cooperation in the area of tourism and assumes the development of the Plan of Action for implementation of the aimed confidence building measures in the direction of tourism within the CICA framework.
The Concept Paper on international cooperation in the area of tourism within the framework of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia are based on modern principles taking a note of interests of all parties which encourage development of cooperation on equal basis and directed to use their potential in the interests of common goals.
The policy of cooperation in the area of tourism within the CICA framework should be based on norms of the international law and national legislation of the Member States.
The CICA Member States adopt the present Concept Paper with a view for further implementation on a voluntary and selective basis in accordance with national priorities.
Goals of the Concept Paper
The main goals of the Concept Paper on cooperation among the CICA Member States in the area of tourism are:
Principles of the Concept Paper
Confidence building measures on cooperation in the area of tourism will be implemented by holding consultations and achieving a consensus for adoption relevant decisions in accordance with the Declaration of Principles Guiding Relations between the CICA Member States, the CICA Catalogue of Confidence Building Measures and the Cooperative Approach for the Implementation of CICA CBMs.
Basic directions and mechanisms of cooperation
Within the framework of implementation of confidence building measures among the CICA Member States for interaction in the area of international tourism, the following directions and mechanisms of cooperation will constitute priorities:
In the area of development of tourism exchange:
In the area of promotion of national tourist product:
In the area of training of professional personnel:
Assist exchange of information and expertise in the area of training of professional personnel for tourism industry among the CICA Member States and arrange capacity building programs when necessary.
In the area of legislation:
Exchange information regarding sectoral legislative acts in the sphere of tourism, including systems of technical regulations, classification, attestation and standardization, as well as in the area of control (monitoring) over tourist service quality. Taking measures for harmonization of visa formalities for citizens of the CICA Member States, traveling for tourist purposes in the region.
In the area of capital investments:
Conclusion
Implementation of the present Concept Paper provides ground for adoption of an Action Plan which will reflect concrete events, including issues of financial and other conditions of its implementation.