Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has opened the IFTM Top Resa 2026 international tourism exhibition in Paris as the country of honour, the Uzbek Tourism Committee's press service said.
The national delegation is led by Gayane Umerova, head of the creative economy and tourism department at the Uzbek presidential administration and chair of the Uzbekistan Culture and Art Development Fund.
A new national stand has been designed for the exhibition, combining traditional carving and decorative elements with a modern, functional design made of natural wood. The concept reflects an updated approach to positioning the country, not only as a tourist destination but also as a culturally distinctive partner for international cooperation. This design will be used at other international exhibitions in the future.
Business meetings with tour operators, airlines and hotel chains are being held at the stand.
"Culture and tourism are part of a single ecosystem: they make it possible to preserve local identity, support the development of the regions and create new opportunities for international cooperation," Umerova said.
Interest among French tourists in Uzbekistan continues to grow: around 29,600 people from France visited the country in 2025, while almost 15,000 visited in the first five months of 2026, a 1.3-fold increase on the same period last year.
IFTM Top Resa is one of Europe's largest B2B platforms for the tourism industry. Organisers expect around 34,000 visitors in 2026. The event runs from 15 to 17 September.
