The 1st Expert Group Meeting on Ecotourism was held in Ankara from 1 – 3 December 2008. The meeting was attended by the delegations of 8 member states: the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyz Republic, Republic of Kazakhstan, Republic of Turkey (host), Republic of Tajikistan and Republic of Uzbekistan as well as ECO Secretariat staff.
All the participants made presentations/statements on the state of Ecological Tourism (Ecotourism) in their respective countries, covering policies, programs and projects on the subject.
The participants were briefed on the 1st Task Force Meeting on Ecotourism (Tehran, December 16-17, 2007). The meeting was also informed by the Iranian delegation that the draft Convention on Sustainable Nature Based Tourism for Cooperation in the ECO Region, as per decision of the Ist Task Force Meeting, had been prepared and was being vetted by their legal authorities. It would be circulated to the member states, through the Secretariat, shortly.
The most important out come of this meeting was the finalization and adoption of the Plan of Action on Cooperation of ECO Countries in the field of Ecotourism for the period 2009-2013 which had been prepared by the Republic of Turkey, as per decision of the First Task Force Meeting (Tehran, 16-17 December 2007). The meeting agreed that a Coordinating Country would be designated to make necessary arrangements and coordination among the Member States for the implementation of the Action Plan. The member states should offer their willingness to the Secretariat, within two months, to act as a Coordinating Country
The meeting welcomed and approved the outline proposed by the Islamic Republic of Iran for the provision of information to establish a data-base of ECO Countries in the field of Ecotourism. The Meeting also agreed with the Iranian proposal that the database might be established by seeking funds from international resources.
The meeting agreed that the subject of Cooperation of ECO Countries in the field of Ecotourism needs further discussions and proposed that a member state may offer to host the 2nd Expert Group meeting on Ecotourism. Date and venue of the meeting would be determined accordingly.
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