Uzbekistan Expands International Cooperation in Tourism

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A delegation of Uzbekistan led by the Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Abdulaziz Akkulov, participated in the UN Tourism Ministers’ Summit held as part of the international tourism exhibition ITB Berlin in Berlin. On the sidelines of the event, representatives of Uzbekistan held several bilateral meetings with international organizations and business representatives.

The main goal of the negotiations was to promote the country’s tourism potential on the global stage and discuss measures to increase tourist flows to Uzbekistan.

During a meeting with the Deputy Chairman of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Azada Huseynova, the sides discussed expanding practical bilateral cooperation.

The talks focused on preparations for signing an updated Memorandum of Understanding and implementing joint marketing initiatives. Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to organize mutual FAM tours and blogger visits, strengthen cooperation between tour operators, and explore the creation of joint tourism routes targeting the European and Southeast Asian markets.

At a meeting with Edison Chen, Vice President for Global Destination Marketing at Trip.com Group, the sides discussed promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential on the company’s digital platforms. They considered the possibility of implementing joint marketing campaigns and creating a special online page dedicated to Uzbekistan.

As a result of the talks, the parties agreed to develop a joint marketing initiative targeting Southeast Asian markets.

During discussions with Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), prospects for developing MICE tourism in Uzbekistan were reviewed.

Special attention was given to implementing the Convention Bureau model, attracting international association events, and utilizing ICCA analytical tools. The sides also agreed to continue consultations on promoting the Arda Khiva in Khiva as a new venue for international congresses and business events.

In addition, during a meeting with Martin Barth, Director for Strategic Partnerships and International Business at Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern, the sides discussed training modern professionals for the hospitality industry.

The discussions focused on introducing practice-oriented educational programs and developing academic cooperation with the UN Tourism Academy in Samarkand. The parties agreed to continue working consultations to determine specific formats of cooperation.

The negotiations are aimed at further strengthening Uzbekistan’s position in the global tourism market and promoting the country as an attractive and competitive travel destination.