16.10.2023

The Head of our State visited the exhibition on the tourism potential of Uzbekistan, organized at the International Tourism Center "The Great Silk Road" in the city of Samarkand.

As it is known, the 25th session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization is currently taking place in Samarkand. The organization of this Summit is a recognition of Uzbekistan’s open-door policy and its immense tourism potential.

Thus, favourable conditions for tourism industry are being created in our country. Visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of approximately 100 countries, and a simplified procedure for obtaining an e-visa has been established for citizens of 55 more countries.

Tourism infrastructure is being developed, and the number of hotels, tourist destinations, and routes is increasing. In this year alone, 15,000 new hotel spots have been created, bringing the total to 140,000. Additionally, 540 recreational areas have been built, and 70 tourist routes have been opened. Six private airlines have also commenced operations.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that the tourism sector has the significant untapped potential, and the summit of the World Tourism Organization is the best way to highlight it. 

At the exhibition, the investment and tourism potential of 14 regions of our country were displayed. The opportunities offered by picturesque locations such as Zaamin, Charvak, Chimgan, and other recreational zones, as well as tourist destinations, ecological sites and extreme tourism locations, should not be overlooked.

The Tourism Committee, “Uzbekistan Airways” company, “Uzbekistan airports” and “Uzbekistan helicopters” have organized their exhibition stands. A section of the exhibition is dedicated to showcasing the tourism potential of Central Asian countries, as well as start-up projects implemented in cooperation with foreign partners.

In general, promising projects totaling $2 billion will be presented to investors during the exhibition.

The President of Uzbekistan reviewed the exhibition pavilions together with the Secretary General of World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili. The executives were instructed to create tourist facilities around the landmark locations in the regions, expand conditions for visiting them, as well as to form a portfolio of specific investment projects.