Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 3-5 October 2018, the 24th Tashkent International Tourism Fair "Tourism on the Silk Road" (TITF-2018) will be held at the Uzexpocenter National Exhibition Center in Tashkent

At the end of 2016, President S. Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On measures to ensure the accelerated development of the tourism industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, which determined the positive dynamics of its development in 2018. In particular, over the 8 months of this year, the number of foreign visitors amounted to 3.4 million people against 1.5 million (+ 26%) for the same period in 2017.

The tourist market of Uzbekistan is full of interesting and progressive events. Tashkent International Tourism Fair "Tourism on the Silk Road" (TITF-2018) is the brightest, large-scale event of the tourism industry of Uzbekistan and the entire Central Asian region.

The fair has been held since 1995 with the official support of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Every year, it gathers professionals of the tourism industry from all over the world.

The main organizers of the event are the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism  development, the "National PR-Center".

This year, participation in the fair confirmed companies from the Kingdom of Thailand, Egypt, Singapore, Malaysia, Azerbaijan, India, Korea, Turkey, China, Kyrgyzstan and Russia.

The National Exhibition Center "Uzexpocenter" will include the International and National Pavilions, where the exposition will present the project "Town of Craftsmen", stands of theaters and museums of the Uzbekistan regions, the festival of national dishes, "Oriental Bazaar", "Alley of Artists ", defile of leading and novice Uzbek designers and much more.

The National Pavilion will feature presentation stands of the regions of Uzbekistan, demonstrating the peculiarities of the national culture and the tourist potential of each of them.

In the International Pavilion will be located the stands of international airlines; educational institutions; tourist and resort destinations operating both in Uzbekistan and beyond; various types of tourism (insurance, wine, business, medical, etc.).

Also this year in the International Pavilion will be presented the Information Stand of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for tourism development, where participants and guests will be able to get information about services in the tourism industry - licensing, certification, and training in tourism.

Uzbek cuisine is one of the richest and most delicious in the East. Located at the intersection of the caravan roads of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan for many centuries have been absorbed the most interesting and unusual recipes of dishes from peoples of different countries. The festival of national dishes “Taste of the Silk Road” will be held in the National pavilion “Uzexpocenter” as part of the TITF-2018 exhibition, the main theme of which will be a gastronomic journey along the Great Silk Road.

More than 10 thematic platforms will be presented on the open space, where you can taste and appreciate the gastronomic masterpieces of the regions of Uzbekistan. During the festival, the most famous chefs of the Uzbekistan will hold master classes.

TITF-2018 includes a number of international and local projects in the field of tourism and culture with an emphasis on the development of the business environment. Thus, from October 3 - 5, within the framework of the exhibition, a series of presentations of tourist destinations of Uzbekistan and foreign countries will be held. In particular, on the first day of the fair, the following projects will be held in the Big Conference Hall - Scat Airlines (Kazakhstan) and the presentation of the “Interactive Guide”, an interactive service on travel guide.

 Also on October 4, a presentation of the tourist potential of the People’s Republic of China will take place in the same hall.

This year, 50 representatives of foreign media from 22 countries of the world - Latvia, Poland, Turkey, the Kingdom of Thailand, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, India, Belgium, the Netherlands, Greece, France, Germany, Japan, Spain - will participate in the Hosted Buyers program. , Italy, China, Belarus, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Israel. Also within the framework of TITF-2018, a tourist trip in the heart of Uzbekistan - Samarkand will be organized for representatives of foreign media.

On October 3-5, the trading tents of the participants of the East Bazaar exposition will stand to work. On the territory of "Uzexpocenter" in order to demonstrate the color and characteristics of the bazaars of Uzbekistan, a fair will be organized in the national style, the participants of which will include artisans, restaurants and folklore groups.

The Silk Road in the historical direction has a unique cultural value for communication  and cultural exchange between various nations and also serves as a link in the development of tourism, the economy and the social and cultural transformation of all countries. UNWTO and other authoritative international organizations of the United Nations pay special attention not only to the study and preservation of the cultural, historical and natural heritage, but also to the creation of favorable social and economic conditions for the development of tourism in the countries along the Silk Road.

According to Trip Advisor’s study conducted by UNWTO, more than 80% of travelers in the world know about the Silk Road, and the international magazine Forbes has recognized it as one of the most powerful brands.

A special place among these countries is occupied by Uzbekistan, for which the status of the “heart of the Silk Road” is rightfully preserved. Uzbekistan is an active participant in the transcontinental project of the UN, UNWTO and UNESCO to revive tourism on the ancient, historic route of the Great Silk Road.

The purpose of the event is to create an international platform for sharing experiences, establishing dialogue and joint efforts to promote and develop the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the Silk Road, creating a platform for discussing plans for possible future cooperation.