27 Task Force members representing Silk Road Member States, International Organizations and UNWTO Affiliate Members from the public and private tourism sector convened in the Silk Road city of Kayseri in Turkey to discuss the strategies and objectives that are to structure Silk Road tourism development for the coming years. The 8^th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force meeting was held on 26-27 April 2018.

Following the recent success of the Silk Road Ministers Meeting at ITB Berlin 2018, held under the theme “2025 Silk Road Tourism Agenda”, Task Force representatives presented concrete strategies and priorities aiming to establish the Silk Road as the most important transnational tourism route of the 21st century.

The input received, together with flagship capacity building projects, trainings and a new Silk Road tourism intelligence pillar presented by UNWTO during the meeting, will be duly reflected within the new Silk Road Action Plan. The timeframe of the programme’s main work document will be expanded from the current two to four years, and incorporate a new tourism development philosophy. While maintaining a global Silk Road perspective, this work document will centre on achieving specific results on a country-by-country basis.

Opened by the Deputy Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Turkey, the meeting showcased the good work being carried out by the host country in the areas of Silk Road marketing and tourism route development. The conclusions of the Silk Road Task Force meeting will be presented during the 8th UNWTO International Meeting on Silk Road Tourism in Thessaloniki, Greece in October 2018.

The 8^th UNWTO Silk Road Task Force meeting was jointly organized by UNWTO and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

Please follow this link to access all relevant meeting information, including presentations and the meeting programme.