Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has presented its tourism opportunities to Egyptian travellers in Cairo, highlighting mountain and winter holidays, culinary experiences and natural attractions as part of efforts to attract more visitors from Egypt.
The event, titled “Tourism Umra Plus: Strategic Tourism Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Egypt”, was organized by the International Umra Plus Tourism Association (UPITA) in cooperation with Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee and the country's embassy in Egypt.
Representatives of Egyptian government agencies, tourism companies, tour operators and the media attended the event.
The organizers sought to promote Uzbekistan not only as a destination for pilgrimage tourism but also for nature-based holidays, winter travel, agritourism and experiences centred on national cuisine. Another objective was to establish direct business links between tour operators from the two countries and develop joint tourism products.
During a presentation titled “Uzbekistan: Mountains, Snow and Flavours”, participants learned about opportunities for winter holidays and skiing, Zaamin National Park, the Aydar-Arnasay lake system, and natural attractions in the Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions. Uzbek national cuisine and traditional handicrafts were also showcased.
Particular attention was given to destinations suitable for family trips and ready-made itineraries for Egyptian travellers.
Two sample tours were presented. The eight-day itinerary, “Mountains, Flavours and Heritage”, covers Tashkent, Chimgan and Charvak, the Ferghana Valley and Samarkand. The seven-day tour, “Nature and Flavours”, includes visits to Amirsoy, Zaamin, Lake Aydarkul and Samarkand.
Following the meeting, participants proposed organizing familiarization trips to Uzbekistan for Egyptian tour operators and journalists, holding joint marketing events and business-to-business meetings with Uzbek tourism companies, and preparing promotional and informational materials in Arabic.
Another outcome was the signing of a memorandum of understanding involving the Egyptian Tourism Federation, Dahab Group, Best Control and the International Umra Plus Tourism Association. The agreement is aimed at attracting tourists from Egypt to Uzbekistan.
According to the organizers, combined tourism packages linking pilgrimage trips with nature-based activities, winter holidays and culinary experiences could broaden the range of options available to Egyptian travellers.
Such offers could be particularly relevant to increasing tourist arrivals during the winter and spring seasons and promoting Uzbekistan as a year-round destination.
