Varanasi nominated as the first SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital

Context

The city of Varanasi has been nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital during the period 2022-2023 at the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Key facts

• During the 22nd Meeting of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Varanasi was nominated as the first-ever SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital for the period of 2022-23.
• This would promote tourism, cultural and humanitarian exchanges between India and other SCO member states.
• Under this framework, various events will be organized in Varanasi in 2022-23.
• These events bring together musicians, authors, scholars, Indologists and artists as well as other invited guests.
• The regulations for the nomination of the SCO Tourism and Cultural Capital were adopted at the Dushanbe SCO Summit in 2021.
• The purpose of this initiative is to promote cooperation between the SCO members in the area of culture and tourism.
• It also highlights India’s ancient civilizational links with SCO members, especially those from Central Asia.

Background

• During the 2019 Bishkek Summit, the President of Uzbekistan suggested the establishment of an annual SCO tradition of nominating a city in the country presiding over the SCO as the SCO tourism and culture capital.
• The objective of this proposal is to realize the tourism potential of cities and promote the cultural and historic heritage of the SCO member states.

Varanasi

• Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh dates back to the 11th century BC. 
• It is considered to be the “spiritual capital” of India. 
• It hosts some 2,000 temples, including Kashi Vishwanath. 
• It is situated at the left bank of River Ganga in the middle-Ganges valley.