Oriented on making people closer

From June 4 to 6, 2025, the 71st meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Europe was held in Baku. The event was attended by a delegation from Turkmenistan headed by H.E. B. Rejepov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to the Federal Republic of Germany and Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to UN Tourism.

Representatives from 38 member countries of the UN Tourism Commission for Europe took part in the meeting. The participants discussed key issues related to the development of the tourism industry in the region, including current challenges. The member states agreed to continue their joint cooperation in addressing these matters. According to reports by UN Tourism representatives, international tourism almost fully recovered in 2024, reaching 99% of the pre-pandemic level of 2019. Around 1.4 billion international tourist arrivals were recorded globally — an 11% increase compared to 2023. This recovery was made possible by sustained post-pandemic demand, strong performance in key outbound markets, and a gradual revival of destinations in the Asia-Pacific region.

Special attention was given to Europe’s role as the world’s leading tourist region. It was noted that tourism remains a major driver of economic growth on the continent. According to UN Tourism, Europe welcomed 747 million international tourists in 2024, a 1% increase compared to 2019 and a 5% rise from 2023. These figures indicate a full recovery of the tourism sector in the region. Key contributors to this growth include the revival of intra-regional travel and the recovery of primary source markets.

It was also noted that in the decade prior to the pandemic (2009–2019), tourism in Europe showed steady growth — from 480 to 742 million arrivals, accounting for 55% of total global growth or an average annual increase of 4.5%. The recovery in 2024 signifies a return to the region’s long-term growth trajectory, reaffirming the renewed positive momentum in the European tourism industry.

Turkmenistan, as an active participant in initiatives under UN Tourism, attaches great importance to the development of the tourism sector both nationally and regionally. The country places high priority on strengthening international cooperation in tourism, adopting modern approaches to developing tourism infrastructure, and promoting Turkmenistan’s rich cultural and natural heritage on the global stage.

ORIENT

Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan