American Chamber
of Commerce in Uzbekistan
TOURISM CONTINUES TO GROW IN UZBEKISTAN
Tourism continues to grow in Uzbekistan
Tourism within the fall months of 2010, typically known among local tour operators as the high tourist season, was even higher than normal compared to past years. In conjunction with this, the international community was also able to participate in a number of successful tourist-related events that highlighted Uzbekistan and its tourism potential.
The annual Tashkent International Tourism Fair has remained the biggest of its kind in Central Asia since 1995. This year’s 16th annual fair, presented in partnership with Thailand and titled “Tourism on the Silk Road,” was held in the UzExpocenter from October 7–9 and attracted attendees from many countries.
The fair offered a variety of highlights. In the National Pavilion, the exhibit “Tourism of Uzbekistan” allowed each region within Uzbekistan to present its unique culture, traditions, centers of interest, museums, hotel accommodations, transportation, restaurants, and more.
Other pavilions included information from international tour operators and agencies, hotels and other tourism- related enterprises from more than 20 countries.
On October 8–9, most of the fair participants traveled to Samarkand to participate in the Annual Meeting of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) “Silk Road.” UNWTO unites more than 150 countries and sponsors a number of projects in the area of tourism and promoting intercultural exchange.
In 2004, UNWTO opened a regional office in Samarkand to coordinate the work of national tourism organizations within the countries located on the historic path of the Great Silk Road.
At this year’s Fifth Annual International Meeting on the Silk Road, more than 250 epresentatives gathered from 25 countries. Some members of the the AmCham Tourism and Hospitality Industry Committee participated as well.
Secretary General of the UNWTO Taleb Rifai opened the meeting in Samarkand together with the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Elyor Gainyev. The day before Rifai was officially received by Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan. The meeting in Samarkand was held at Registan Square in the 15th-century madrasa of Ulugbek, grandson of Amir Timur.
While praising Uzbekistan’s unique cultural heritage, Rifai also listed problems that could hinder the development of tourism, including such things as visas, country infrastructure and
others.
More than 500,000 tourists visited Uzbekistan in 2009. At the time of the conference, around 800,000 visitors were expected in 2010, said Ganiyev. “We hope in the near future we will be able to accept 1.5 to 2 mln tourists annually,” he said.
Zokhir Mirzaer, Mayor of Samarkand, and Rustom Mirzaev, Chairman of the “Uzbektourism” National Company, presided at a panel meeting during the tourism event. The presenters of the two-day seminar included Anita Nirody, UNDP; Roger Carter, TEAM Tourism Consulting; Nick Easen, World Business on CNBC, and many others. For more information, visit www.unwto. org/silkroad.
The Uzbekistan government has put an enormous amount of effort and a huge amount of money into raising international awareness of Uzbekistan through the organization of high-quality events. The Sony Ericsson WTA
Tashkent Open for women, followed by a similar tournament championship event for men, plus other fairs and photo exhibitions are just some of the many events held in fall 2010 designed to help broaden the exposure of Uzbekistan in the international community.
One such event was Ark Week Style. Uz 2010, held October 9–14. Official statistic reveal that the event boasted 50 participating countries, more than 230 international guests, 222 media representatives, 150 volunteers, 5000 daily visitors and roughly 30,000 people in total. More than 100 guests from among world-known designers, public figures, specialists in the sphere of fashion and arts, chief editors of international magazines, famous stars, as well as fashion brands all visited and participated in Style.Uz Week.
Among the celebrities were Max and Mara, Basso and Brooke, Salvatore Ferragamo, Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, and Jose Carreras.
For more information about Style.Uz 2010 visit www.style.uz
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