Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has presented its experience in using tourism to preserve and promote cultural heritage at an international seminar in Cairo focused on the management of Islamic and rural heritage with the participation of local communities.
The event is being held from 12 to 14 October 2026 and organized by the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) under the project funding programme of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMCEC).
SESRIC Director-General Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk and Egypt's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Sherif Fathy, attended the opening ceremony.
During a thematic workshop, M. Mirzakhidov, deputy director of the Tourism Product Development Office under Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, presented the country's approaches to promoting cultural heritage and national traditions through tourism products.
The presentation highlighted Uzbekistan's potential in sustainable, pilgrimage and rural tourism, as well as examples of tangible and intangible cultural heritage included on UNESCO lists.
Particular attention was given to traditional crafts, national music and dance, Uzbek cuisine, the art of askiya, the bakhshi storytelling tradition and tourism villages.
The initiatives attracted interest from participants, who learned about Uzbekistan's potential to develop tourism routes based on cultural traditions and local heritage.
Representatives from Egypt, Malaysia and Türkiye are also attending the seminar, alongside the UN World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and UNESCO.
Participants are exchanging experience and views on cultural heritage preservation, tourism development and expanding international cooperation.
Uzbekistan's participation aims to share its national experience and promote the country's tourism opportunities internationally.
