ECO meeting in Türkiye’s Erzurum selects Pakistan’s Lahore as tourism capital

The Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) “6th Meeting of Tourism Ministers,” chaired by Türkiye’s Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, has selected Lahore, Pakistan, as the ECO Tourism Capital for 2027.

Speaking at the closed-door meeting held at a hotel in Erzurum, which was designated the ECO Tourism Capital for 2025, Minister Ersoy expressed his great pleasure in hosting representatives from member countries in the city.

Ersoy emphasized that the ECO, established in 1985 by Iran, Pakistan, and Türkiye, has grown into a significant economic and cultural platform with the later participation of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan.

He also noted that the involvement of observers, such as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and the Organization of Turkic States, has further expanded the organization’s sphere of influence.

ECO accounts for 6% of global tourism

Highlighting the organization’s growth, Ersoy stated that the ECO has evolved into a regional economic institution operating across a geography covering 8 million square kilometers and encompassing a population of approximately 500 million.

He emphasized the importance of recognizing not only the cultural and economic potential represented by the ECO, but also the role the organization could play in addressing common challenges.

Stressing that tourism is “a key sector within the ECO, significant both economically and culturally,” Ersoy noted that the region hosts approximately 90 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

He pointed out that before the pandemic, in 2019, the ECO region welcomed 90 million visitors, representing 6% of global tourism. He further underlined that Türkiye, as one of the founding members of the ECO, attaches great importance to enhancing economic and cultural ties with fellow member states.

Highlighting Erzurum’s tourism potential, Ersoy stated that a series of major events planned throughout the year — including the Snowboard World Cup, the Erzurum Gastronomy Festival, the Traditional Turkish Sports Festival, and the Palandoken Economic Forum—”are” a testament to Türkiye’s commitment to the ECO.

Ersoy added that these activities, organized as part of Erzurum’s designation as the 2025 ECO Tourism Capital, would serve as a model for future ECO Tourism Capitals.