Uzbekistan, Indonesia Expand Cooperation in Pilgrimage Tourism
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and Indonesia plan to expand cooperation in pilgrimage tourism, including tourist exchanges, the launch of direct air services and cooperation between tour operators.
The plans were discussed during a meeting between Abdulaziz Akkulov, chairman of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, and Muhammad Irfan Yusuf, Indonesia’s minister for Hajj and Umrah affairs.
One of the key issues discussed was increasing tourist flows between the two countries. The sides considered launching a direct Tashkent-Jakarta air route, as well as direct flights connecting Tashkent with Uzbekistan’s historic cities.
The meeting participants also discussed the possibility of applying mechanisms proposed by the Uzbek president to subsidize new air routes. In addition, local tour operators attracting tourists from Indonesia are expected to receive a subsidy of US$100 for each tourist brought to Uzbekistan.
Indonesia is viewed as a promising market for the development of pilgrimage tourism. More than 2 million Indonesian citizens perform Hajj and Umrah each year.
Uzbekistan has more than 1,200 pilgrimage tourism sites, including locations associated with the heritage of Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, Imam Tirmizi and Bahauddin Naqshband.
During the Indonesian minister’s visit, he toured pilgrimage sites in Samarkand and Bukhara. Following the visit, the sides agreed to promote the two cities in the Indonesian market as pilgrimage tourism destinations, develop specialized travel routes and organize B2B meetings between Hajj and Umrah operators from the two countries.
A practical area of cooperation will also be the launch of the five-star Hadith Hotel at the Imam Bukhari complex with the participation of Indonesian investors.
The sides are also considering the development of an “Umrah Plus” program, expanded cooperation between tour operators and improvements to pilgrimage tourism infrastructure.
The measures are aimed at strengthening Uzbekistan’s position in the Indonesian tourism market and increasing the number of tourists arriving from Indonesia.
