The 22nd Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” opened at the UzExpoCentre on October 5.
In the opening of the event, organized by the National Company “Uzbektourism”, the ministries of Culture and Sport Affairs002C Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent city khokimiyat (administration) and “Great Silk Road” advertising agency with the assistance of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was attended by the representatives of domestic and foreign tourism companies, hotels, tourism professionals and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country.
Chairman of the National Company “Uzbektourism” Farrukh Rizaev, Executive Director for Technical Cooperation and Services at the UN World Tourism Organization Zhu Shanzhong and others noted that as a result of the basic reforms for socio-economic development of the country, implemented under the leadership of the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, modern infrastructure of tourism is consistently developed, and the conditions for the travelers’ exciting and meaningful leisure have been created.
The resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to further support and development of tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan” dated October 10, 2012, serves as an important guide to action in the tourism infrastructure development, active promotion of national tourism services on the international tourism markets.
Our country attracts tourists from all around the world with its ancient cities, combining history and modernity, unique cultural and spiritual heritage, traditions and customs of our people, emphasizing its uniqueness, natural potential. Peace and stability in our country, kindness and harmony atmosphere, the Uzbek hospitality, modern hotels and recreation areas, high quality services create good opportunities for meaningful leisure time.
From year to year, the number of tourists visiting our country continues to grow. In particular, in 2015, more than 2 million tourists visited Uzbekistan.
In our country constant attention is paid to the further development of the tourism industry, the scale of the expansion of services offered to tourists. Thus, were modernized Fleet of the National Air Company “Uzbekistan Airways” and airports, the geography of flights was expanded. Running from the capital to Samarkand, Bukhara and Karshi modern high-speed train “Afrosiyob” have created conveniences and comfort for tourists. As a result of the construction of the electrified railway “Angren – Pap” was established modern movement of trains from Tashkent to Fergana valley.
Along with the development of road infrastructure, service system of foreign and local tourists is also developed. Today in Uzbekistan there are 1282 tourism organizations, in particular, more than 660 hotels, tourist centers and campsites, over 600 travel agencies.
Many projects are realized in our country in cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organization. Uzbekistan joined the organization in 1993. Since 2004, Regional Center “On the Silk Road” under the UNWTO operates in Samarkand. Co-organized international tourist fairs, conferences and seminars.
One of the prospective directions of the tourism industry is ecological tourism. The network of natural areas, covering reserves, natural parks, ecocentres, and biosphere reserves – is being extended. Large-scale measures to assess the capacity of these facilities of ecotourism, for the creation of its inventory, preparation of qualified sphere professionals, showcasing a wide eco-tourism potential of our country are implemented.
Traditionally carried out since 1995, the Tashkent International Tourism Fair TITF is an important factor in the further expansion of work in this direction, familiarization of the world community with a huge potential of our country in the field of tourism, strengthening and expansion of cooperation with leading foreign tourism companies.
The current fair is attended by representatives of more than twenty companies from Japan, Portugal, Chile, Russia, Turkey, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and other countries.
The Tashkent International Tourism Fair covered all modern trends in the tourism industry. It represents tour operators, travel agencies, major industry-hotel complexes and private hotels, motels, resorts, transport companies, airline operators, global ordering system, software of tourist industry and tourist services, museums, as well as the services of the companies of cultural leisure and recreation industry, concerning the scope of modern technologies. At the fair, there are sections such as environmental, sporting, educational, gastronomic, health tourism, sightseeing, cruises, hotel and restaurant business, industrial real estate and insurance.
The national pavilion “Travel in Uzbekistan” presented travel agencies and companies from all regions of our country. It offers services of educational and health centers, theaters, museums, tourist agencies, regional offices of the “Uzbektourism” National Company, association of private tourism organizations.
Presentations on the preparation of national dishes are conducted. In addition with becoming familiar with the information relating to the tourist potential of the regions of our country has been created the opportunity to try the generous gifts of our land.
At the fair is also organized a separate section on educational tourism. In the Tashkent State Economic University, the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent, in a number of professional colleges has been established the training of specialists for the directions: tourism marketing and management, the provision of services of international tourism, hospitality industry and restaurant business.
In the “Medical Tourism in Uzbekistan” are widely represented a kind of potential of national medicine, its scientific achievements, specialized medical centers, the possibilities of modern diagnostic and treatment, created in the leading clinics.
During the “Hosted Buyers” program heads and managers of foreign companies have the opportunity to get acquainted with the tourist routes in our country, to establish contacts and make mutually beneficial contracts.
Within the event, was held the international conference on the theme “Ecological tourism – protection factor of environment and sustainable development: the experience of Uzbekistan and international practice”. At the conference, organized by the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Company “Uzbektourism” and the UNWTO it was noted that measures for nature protection implemented in our country, the rational use of surface-based and underground resources, contribute to the sustainable development of society. It were heard heard the reports on the tourism potential of our country, implemented programs and projects in this area, were identified long-term objectives, directions of international cooperation.
In the framework of the fair also was organized scientific-practical conference, dedicated to the development of domestic tourism, the current state and perspectives of public services, providing in this area.
The event will allow the opportunity to exchange of views with foreign partners and experts for the further attraction of tourists to our country, and to sign a cooperation agreement.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.Ikromov took a part at the opening of the fair.
