CIS states to share information on tourism support measures amidst COVID-19

State-run tourism promotion agencies of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) participating countries will regularly exchange information on measures to support national tourism industries amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was made at a meeting of the working group on responding to challenges in the tourism sector under the CIS Tourism Council. The first meeting of the working group was held online on 23 March, BelTA learned from the press service of the CIS Executive Committee.

The meeting was attended by representatives of Armenia, Belarus, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the CIS Executive Committee. The exchange of best practices is believed to help overcome the impact of the pandemic on tourism and travel.

“It was noted that the CIS member states are taking large-scale and comprehensive measures to shore up their tourism industries, including by providing financial assistance to tourism businesses (subsidies, grants and interest-free loans), subsidies to pay salaries, tax holidays, benefits and deferrals, as well as by holding public outreach and marketing campaigns to stimulate demand and promote tourist destinations,” the press service said.

Amidst COVID-19 restrictions the industry gained invaluable experience in actively using the online format for hosting tourism forums and conferences. In particular, the CIS Tourism Forum was held online in Tashkent during the Week of Business Initiatives in September 2020. The CIS Tourism Council had its first online meeting in November 2020.

The working group was recommended to inform national tourism organizations about COVID-19 restrictions adopted by the CIS countries and measures to support tourism, as well as to help promptly tackle issues related to interaction in the tourism sector.

The next meeting of the working group is to be held in May, in the run-up to the next meeting of the CIS Tourism Council.