Industry commits to boosting Silk Road tourism

The international tourism industry has come together to make a commitment to the Silk Road, an interconnected network of trade routes that runs through Turkey, Syria, Turkmenistan, China and other countries throughout Asia.

An agreement to boost cooperation and establish a powerful brand was reached at the first Silk Road ministers' summit at the ITB 2011 travel show in Berlin, which was hosted by the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The results of online market research were revealed at the event, showing that the historic trade network is the world's most sought-after international travel route.UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai said: 'This is an exciting period in the development of Silk Road tourism.

'The Silk Road is a powerful brand for leveraging continued tourism growth in Asia and the Middle East, while utilising online technologies and social media.'Mr Rifai highlighted some of the challenges facing the project, such as the need to improve travel infrastructure and accessibility for tourists visiting the region.

Source = opodo.co.uk