CIS Countries Strengthen Their Positions in Tourism and IT

A regular meeting of the Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives of the CIS Member Nations at the Statutory and other Bodies of the Commonwealth took place in Minsk.

The participants reviewed the activities of the CIS Advisory Board on Tourism for the period 2022–2025.

Director of the State Institution “National tourism agency” of the Republic of Belarus Kiril Masharskiy presented the results of efforts to improve the organizational framework and legal regulation of the tourism sector across the Commonwealth countries.

Pursuant to a decision adopted by the Council of the CIS Heads of Government on 5 June 2025, the “For the Development of Tourism in the Commonwealth of Independent States” badge of honour was established.

Work is also continuing on the creation of a collaborative platform bringing together representatives of national tourism administrations, with the participation of tourism industry unions, associations, and other professional organizations from across the Commonwealth.

Cooperation has also been maintained with the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to further develop the “Travel HUB “Commonwealth”” International Tourism Forum.

A package of tourism-related documents has now been prepared for consideration by the Council of the CIS Heads of Government. It includes draft Statement of the Heads of Government on Cooperation in the Field of Tourism; Regulations on the “Thematic Year in the Tourism Sector of the Commonwealth” Project of the CIS Member Nations; Regulations on International Tourism Events of the CIS Member Nations; and Regulations on the “Tourism Capitals of the Commonwealth” Interstate Programme.

The Belarusian city of Lida has been nominated as the first Tourism Capital of the Commonwealth, owing to its significant tourism potential, rich cultural and architectural heritage, distinctive historical character, and picturesque landscapes.

Director General of the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications, Chair of the IPA CIS Expert Advisory Board and the Regional Commonwealth in the field of Communications (RCC) Alexey Borodin delivered a presentation on cooperation among the CIS countries in digitalization and information and communication technologies.

He identified the following priority areas for cooperation: the development of artificial intelligence, quantum communications, metaverses, the Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things; expanding access to low Earth orbit satellite communication systems; establishing an alliance of IT parks and IT start-ups; introducing an effective mechanism for cross-border digital signatures; promoting e-government, e-commerce, telemedicine, and distance learning; strengthening information security; and countering the criminal use of information and communication technologies.

The meeting was attended by Representative of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly to the CIS Executive Committee Viktor Kogut.