The inaugural meeting of the Heads of Turkic Ski Resorts took place on 23 September 2024 at the Secretariat of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Istanbul. The event was chaired by OTS Deputy Secretary General, Dr. Mirvokhid Azimov, and attended by heads and representatives from leading ski resorts, including Mr. Rustam Najafov, Chairman of Shahdag Mountain Resort (Azerbaijan), Mr. Rinat Abdrakhmanov, Director General of Shymbulak Ski Resort (Kazakhstan), Mr. Rustam Raimjanov, Director General of Amirsoy Mountain Resort (Uzbekistan), and Mr. Burak Beceren, Authorized Representative of Uludag Ski Resort (Türkiye).
In his opening remarks, Dr. Azimov emphasized the critical importance of collaboration in winter tourism, underscoring the unique natural resources of the Turkic countries. He recalled the commitment made during the 7th Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Tourism in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, in 2022, to strengthen cooperation and launch joint initiatives in this sector.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts. This Union aims to promote ski tourism across the Turkic states by providing a platform for collaboration among the resorts, fostering joint projects, and sharing expertise, knowledge, and best practices.
During the meeting, participants underlined plans to implement unified marketing strategies to promote the member resorts as a single winter tourism destination. Initiatives such as a common subscription system (single card), a shared calendar of sports and entertainment events, and the annual Turkic Countries Ski and Snowboard Cup were also outlined. The Union remains open to expanding its membership, inviting additional ski resorts from the region to join in the future.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing infrastructure, improving visitor experiences, and ultimately contributing to the welfare of the people across the Turkic states. It was agreed that Shahdag Mountain Resort will hold the Union’s first chairmanship, with Mr. Orkhan Badalov, Authorized Representative of Shahdag Mountain Resort, appointed as the Secretary General of the Union for a two-year term.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Azimov emphasized the critical importance of collaboration in winter tourism, underscoring the unique natural resources of the Turkic countries. He recalled the commitment made during the 7th Meeting of Ministers in Charge of Tourism in Shamakhi, Azerbaijan, in 2022, to strengthen cooperation and launch joint initiatives in this sector.
A key outcome of the meeting was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Establishment of the Union of Turkic Ski Resorts. This Union aims to promote ski tourism across the Turkic states by providing a platform for collaboration among the resorts, fostering joint projects, and sharing expertise, knowledge, and best practices.
During the meeting, participants underlined plans to implement unified marketing strategies to promote the member resorts as a single winter tourism destination. Initiatives such as a common subscription system (single card), a shared calendar of sports and entertainment events, and the annual Turkic Countries Ski and Snowboard Cup were also outlined. The Union remains open to expanding its membership, inviting additional ski resorts from the region to join in the future.
The participants reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing infrastructure, improving visitor experiences, and ultimately contributing to the welfare of the people across the Turkic states. It was agreed that Shahdag Mountain Resort will hold the Union’s first chairmanship, with Mr. Orkhan Badalov, Authorized Representative of Shahdag Mountain Resort, appointed as the Secretary General of the Union for a two-year term.
