Tourism leaders from across the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) convened in Cairo on Tuesday for the 4th Ministerial Meeting on Tourism. Hosted by Egypt, the high-profile gathering concluded with the official presentation and adoption of the Cairo Declaration of D-8 President’s Cooperation 2025, a comprehensive roadmap for deepening tourism collaboration across member nations.
The D-8 Organisation brings together nine nations, predominantly from the Muslim world: Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye, working to deepen their economic and cultural cooperation.
The delegates reiterated their shared commitment to positioning tourism as a key driver of socio-economic prosperity. Building on the momentum of previous meetings, including the 2023 summit in Bhurban, Pakistan, participants underscored the importance of investing in tourism infrastructure, empowering SMEs, and nurturing stronger public-private partnerships.
A major highlight of the 2025 Cairo Declaration is the collective recognition of artificial intelligence (AI) as a game-changer for the tourism and heritage sectors. The agreement encourages member states to integrate AI tools responsibly in national strategies, share best practices, and maintain comprehensive governance standards for the rapidly evolving technology.
The declaration also welcomes new initiatives to promote joint cultural events, tourism documentaries, and an online platform to showcase locally made products and handicrafts. Such ventures aim to boost the competitive visibility of D-8 destinations on both regional and global stages.
To encourage seamless travel and cross-border engagement, member states acknowledged the importance of facilitating visa processes in line with national regulations. Additionally, in a celebratory move, Antalya, Türkiye, was named as the first-ever “D-8 Tourism City of the Year” for 2025, an honour designed to spotlight exemplary achievements and inspire further excellence among D-8 cities.
Looking ahead, the Cairo Declaration commits members to holding annual ministerial sessions and expert meetings to review progress and adopt new strategies. The Secretariat has been tasked with organising a landmark forum dedicated to tourism investment and promotion, with Iran set to host the inaugural event in 2026.
D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam told The Egyptian Gazette about the D-8’s commitment to supporting small and local businesses in the tourism sector. He explained that capacity building is a central priority, clearly emphasised in the Cairo Declaration.
“Through sharing best practices and providing learning opportunities among member states, the D-8 intends to empower small and medium-sized enterprises, helping them thrive in an increasingly interconnected tourism landscape,” he said.
Secretary-General Imam was eager to outline the steps being taken to make tourism more open to women, young people, and marginalised groups across the D-8 nations. He highlighted the organisation’s intent to host joint trade fairs and a range of cultural activities designed to bring young people from all nine member countries closer together.
“These opportunities, rooted in the Cairo Declaration, aim to foster cultural exchange and build bridges, ensuring that youth and women can connect, learn, and grow together,” he said..
Imam underlined the importance of balancing tourism growth with environmental responsibility. To address challenges such as over-tourism and environmental impact, the D-8 will actively leverage technology, including artificial intelligence, as highlighted in the Cairo Declaration. By harnessing these innovations, he said, the organisation aspires to promote sustainable tourism models that preserve both the environment and the diverse cultures of member states.
On Monday, Imam had the opportunity to visit the Grand Egyptian Museum.
He described the experience as “mind-blowing”, expressing his deep admiration for the scale and ambition of the museum.
“It’s a very, very solid investment, and I want to congratulate the Egyptian government for an investment well deserved. I was really impressed with what I saw last night.”
