Varanasi to become SCO's first cultural and tourism capital
Varanasi, the holy city that showcases India's culture and traditions for centuries, will be declared the first 'Cultural and Tourism Capital' of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Varanasi will become the "Cultural and Tourism Capital" of the SCO for 2022-23 under a new rotating
initiative by the eight-member organization to promote people-to- people contact and tourism among member states.
Each year the City of Cultural Heritage of a member country that takes over the rotating presidency
of the organization will receive a title to highlight its prominence.
The new initiative of the organization was highlighted
ahead of the summit of the SCO Heads of State to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on 15-16 September this year. The new initiative will come into force after
the Samarkand summit, after which India will assume the presidency and host the next Heads of State summit.