Baku, 23 June 2026 – Baku hosted the international conference “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries”, organized by the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan under country’s Chairmanship in CICA.
The conference brought together over 120 participants, including high-level delegations from 18 CICA Member States, tourism authorities, government agencies, academia, hospitality groups, and civil society organizations.
The event featured thematic plenary panels and expert working sessions that explored circular infrastructure, business models, financial viability, and community engagement in local value chains. These high-level discussions served as a platform for advancing practical cooperation in sustainable tourism and formulating concrete recommendations for the future.
Addressing the opening session, CICA Secretary General Ambassador Kairat Sarybay underscored that tourism serves as an integral component of CICA’s broader connectivity agenda, spanning trade, transport, investment, digitalization, and cultural diplomacy. He noted that the Azerbaijani Chairmanship has shaped its priorities around this vision and is now delivering practical results through the "Circular Green Tourism" project.
Secretary General Sarybay recalled that the initiative successfully commenced with an online kick-off event on 14 October 2025, which launched a regional discussion on sustainable, resource-efficient, and environmentally responsible tourism. This concluding conference in Baku now provides a valuable platform for CICA Member States to share best practices and formulate concrete recommendations for further cooperation.
Secretary General Sarybay stressed that sustainable tourism relies on a balance between infrastructure, investment, and the active involvement of local communities and youth. Drawing on this synergy, he linked today’s conference in Baku to the upcoming CICA Side Event on Volunteerism in New York in July 2026, where Member States’ experience will be showcased as a prime model of youth engagement and public diplomacy.
Ahead of the conference on 23 June, CICA Secretary General Kairat Sarybay held a bilateral meeting with Mr. Fuad Naghiyev, Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan.|
During the meeting, the parties discussed preparations for the CICA Side Event in New York. The Secretary General commended the contribution of the “Tourism Volunteers” Organization operating under the State Agency, praising it as an excellent example of youth empowerment.
Both sides expressed readiness to continue cooperation on the expected outcomes of the Baku Conference, including possible recommendations, knowledge-sharing formats and other practical follow-up activities. Secretary General Sarybay also reaffirmed the CICA Secretariat’s readiness to maintain close coordination with the State Tourism Agency on tourism-related initiatives, including green tourism, circular tourism and community-based tourism.
Full statement by CICA Secretary General Ambassador at the opening of the International Conference “Circular Green Tourism in the CICA Countries” - https://s-cica.org/index.php?view=page&t=speeches&id=413.
