The volume of foreign tourist flows increased in almost all countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) in 2024, Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev told Sputnik.
"It is noteworthy that in 2024, in general, the volume of tourist flows, meaning foreign tourists, increased in almost all SCO countries. In some, by 20% compared to the previous year, in some, up to 47%. This also indicates that cooperation is developing actively," Yermekbayev said.
The SCO is an international organization founded in 2001. It includes India, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Afghanistan and Mongolia are observer states. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Cambodia, Egypt, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey and Sri Lanka are partner states.