Monitoring Desk: On October 16, 2023, the opening ceremony of the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly took place in Samarkand, the events of which will be held in the city of Samarkand until October 20, during which the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev put forward a number of important initiatives for the further development of the country’s tourism industry.
The leader of Uzbekistan stressed that today the tourism sector is one of the dynamically developing and promising sectors of the world economy. Uzbekistan also pays priority attention to the development of the tourism industry as part of major and irreversible reforms to modernize the country. In recent years, a visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of about 100 countries, and a simplified procedure for granting an electronic visa has been established for citizens of another 55 states. Favorable conditions have been created for running all types of tourism businesses, tax and customs benefits have been provided, and credit and financial support has been strengthened. The hotel fund has been increased to 140 thousand seats, 70 new tourist routes have been opened, 6 private airlines have started operating.
It was noted that as a result, the number of foreign tourists arriving in Uzbekistan has increased 2 times. Revenues from the export of tourist services increased 4 times. According to estimates, a total of 7 million tourists will visit Uzbekistan by the end of this year. By 2030, it is planned to increase this figure to 15 million, and the flow of domestic tourists to 25 million people.
It is gratifying that the extensive work being carried out is receiving recognition from the world community. In particular, Uzbekistan occupies high positions in international rankings as the safest and fastest-growing tourism destination.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that within the framework of the Strategy being developed for the integrated development of tourism until 2030, priority attention will be paid to the creation of modern tourism and transport infrastructure. It is scheduled, to build new high–speed roads and railways, double the fleet, and quadruple the number of flights, while 30 large tourist clusters will be created in large cities and places frequented by tourists in Uzbekistan. In the context of the growing problems of climate change, the urgency of adopting an International Action Program for the development of “green” tourism was emphasized.
The issue of improving conditions for travelers with limited mobility and the development of inclusive tourism infrastructure was raised, which was confirmed by the call of the President of Uzbekistan to declare 2025 the “World Year of Inclusive Tourism” and adopt a special declaration. Attention was drawn to the importance of establishing a Global Media Campus and holding its forums every two years within the framework of the sessions of the General Assembly. The readiness to host the first media campus in Uzbekistan was expressed.
The leader of our country also called on the delegates to support the initiative to declare Samarkand the World Capital of Cultural Tourism and adopt an appropriate declaration.
At the end of his speech, the President of Uzbekistan wished for the successful holding of the General Assembly and the achievement of new breakthrough results.
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The author Gulmira Shukurova is the Chief editor of the scientific and methodological electronic journal and portal Foreign Languages in Uzbekistan, lecturer of UzSWLU and UzJMU, well as Co-founder and media trainer of NGO New Media Education Center.
The author of academic books such as “PR in Modern Media Environment”, “Journalist’s Safety” and articles. A specialist in Journalism, Conflict-sensitive journalism, Crisis communication, Media Literacy, and Public Relations.
She has participated in local and international programs on journalism, such as IVLP, Distinguished Humphrey Fellowship (USA), and PfP Media and Communication Course (MIKA, Switzerland). She has 15 years of experience in journalism, and PR.
