Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 9 July 2019, Samarkand hosted a regular meeting of the Council of Tourism of the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the First Annual Tourism Fair of the CIS, as well as International scientific-practical seminar "Tourism in the CIS countries: new challenges and opportunities."

The agenda of the meeting of the Tourism Council, organized jointly with the CIS Executive Committee, included the implementation of the Action Plan for 2018-2020 on the implementation of the strategy for the development of cooperation between the CIS member states in the field of tourism until 2020, the draft Strategy for the development of cooperation in the field of tourism for 2021-2030, the concept of the establishment of the Annual Tourism Fair of the CIS countries and a number of organizational issues.

The Uzbek side presented detailed information on the ongoing reforms in the field of tourism, state-provided benefits and preferences. The special attention of the participants of the meeting was caused by regulatory documents and mechanisms to stimulate the tourism business and the construction of infrastructure tourism facilities.

The meeting participants were presented the Concept of the Annual Tourism Fair of the CIS countries. The council members highly appreciated this format of the business platform for the tourist business of the Commonwealth and supported the initiative of the Uzbek side.

In turn, the head of the delegation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Vice-Minister of Culture and Sport, E. Kozhagapanov, expressed his willingness to host the next fair in Nursultan in September 2020.

Following the meeting, the issue of chairmanship in the CIS Tourism Council was considered. In particular, the candidature of the Republic of Uzbekistan as the presiding country was supported by universal voting by members, and a decision was made to hold the next meeting of the Council in Nursultan in 2020.

More than 75 travel companies and associations from the CIS countries, as well as 30 media representatives took part in the first Annual Tourism Fair of the CIS countries held in Samarkand at a meeting of the Council in the Samarkand city.

B2B negotiations were held at the fair and new promising directions and tour routes were presented. As a result of the event, 54 agreements and arrangements were signed.

At the International scientific and practical seminar on the theme “Tourism in the CIS countries: new challenges and opportunities”, more than 15 heads of universities from the CIS countries, as well as faculty members of local and foreign universities took part. The analysis of the state and the search for new solutions to expand tourism cooperation in the Commonwealth space.

On 10 July 2019, the participants of the event were organized an introductory excursion to the tourist and historical and cultural sites of Samarkand.