Ashgabat, 14 April 2026
Ambassador Silapberdi Nurberdiyev, Deputy Secretary General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), represented the ECO Secretariat at the ‘TurkmenTravel 2026’ International Tourism Exhibition and Forum held from 14 to 16 April in Ashgabat.
During the opening day’s session, “The Region’s Common Heritage: Promoting Central Asian Culture on the World Stage,” Ambassador Nurberdiyev outlined the ECO’s strategic vision and key initiatives, particularly for enhancing regional tourism cooperation. He commended Turkmenistan’s steadfast commitment to advancing regional cooperation, connectivity and the sustainable development of the sector. The Ambassador extended the ECO’s congratulations on the designation of Mary from Turkmenistan, as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2028.
In his address, the Deputy Secretary General highlighted the substantial tourism potential of the ECO region, which welcomed a record 105 million international visitors in 2025. He emphasized tourism’s critical dual function as a powerful engine for economic growth and a vital instrument for fostering cultural dialogue, mutual understanding, and lasting peace. Ambassador Nurberdiyev further stressed the importance of platforms such as TurkmenTravel in catalyzing collaboration and the development of a resilient tourism ecosystem in the region.
Ambassador Nurberdiyev also announced that Shusha from Azerbaijan, the current holder of the ECO Tourism Capital 2026 title, will host the forthcoming 7th ECO Ministerial Meeting on Tourism and reiterated the ECO’s role for regional tourism promotion with such initiatives.
