Tashkent Hosts International Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Summit
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The International Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Summit took place in Tashkent on 26 August 2026, gathering nearly 100 tour operators, tourism business representatives, public and private sector officials, and industry experts from more than 20 countries. The event was organized with the participation of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, the International Ecotourism Association, and travel organization TGS Travel.
Uzbekistan hosted the international summit for the first time in 2026, following previous editions held in major tourism hubs across Türkiye, Egypt, Vietnam, and Tanzania.
The forum presented Uzbekistan's tourism potential, ecotourism development opportunities, and ongoing sector reforms to participants. Discussions focused primarily on sustainable tourism development, the rational use of natural resources, and expanding international cooperation.
Opening remarks at the official ceremony were delivered by Sandjar Tadjiyev, Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, and Murtaza Kalender, Chief Executive Officer of TravelShop Group of Companies and President of the Istanbul Tourism Association.
International tourism experts delivered presentations during the summit. Anis Sehili, an expert on the Middle East and North Africa tourism market, and Roberto Garibaldi, a professor at the University of Bergamo, shared insights into current trends in sustainable tourism, the development of new tourism products, and global best practices.
The program also included B2B business meetings, where foreign and Uzbek tour operators conducted bilateral negotiations to establish new partnerships and implement joint tourism initiatives.
Following the conclusion of the main agenda, foreign delegates will continue familiarizing themselves with Uzbekistan's tourism offerings through organized excursions across the Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara regions, accompanied by additional business meetings designed to showcase the country's historical heritage, cultural assets, and regional development projects.
