SESRIC participated in a virtual forum titled "Sustainable Destinations: Inspiring Leadership for Responsible Tourism," on July 23, 2024. This event was jointly organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and Destination Events.

The forum featured a distinguished panel from SESRIC, Visit Oman, and Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB).The primary objective of the forum was to explore the latest advancements in sustainable tourism and to share vital updates, destination information, and strategic approaches to promoting tourism that benefits both the environment and communities.

SESRIC highlighted the integration of SMART Tourism in the era of digital transformation to preserve natural and cultural heritage sites as well as Smart Tourist Destinations (STDs) framework, which is crucial for shaping the future of tourism. This framework emphasizes sustainability, safety, inclusivity, resilience, economic and social benefits, environmental preservation, and the pivotal role of information and communication technologies (ICTs) and renewable technologies in destination planning. Numerous examples from OIC countries and global best practices were cited to demonstrate how STDs leverage the technological infrastructure of smart cities to enhance and personalize visitor experiences and inform them about available tourism products and services. Additionally, the use of artificial intelligence and big data to forecast tourist comfort levels and manage the environmental and social impacts of international tourism were also discussed.

Visit Oman shared their experience in sustainable tourism as well as their comprehensive insights, particularly focusing on digitalization and modern promotional strategies. They highlighted the development of a responsible tourism sector in Azerbaijan, noting the positive community engagement impacts following the recent U.N. Climate Change Conference (COP28) hosted by Azerbaijan. The forum concluded with an invitation to participate in the next Sustainable Tourism Forum, scheduled for January 2025.