Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- An official ceremony of signing the Agreement between the UNWTO and the Government of Uzbekistan on holding the 25th session of the General Assembly of the organization in the city of Samarkand in October 2023 was held at the headquarters of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Madrid.

On behalf of the UNWTO, the document was signed by the Secretary General of the organization Zurab Pololikashvili, on behalf of the Uzbek side - by the Minister of Natural Resources Aziz Abdukhakimov.

During the event, a “Memorandum of Understanding between the UNWTO and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Uzbekistan on the establishment of the International Academy of Tourism in the city of Samarkand in cooperation with UNWTO” was also signed, as well as the ceremony of presenting the head of the “Eriell Group” Bakhtiyor Fazylov with a UNWTO recognition for his special contribution to development of international tourism.

Following the event, the UNWTO Secretary General noted that “the upcoming global event in Samarkand will undoubtedly be a historic event in the world of tourism.

“Uzbekistan is the heart of Central Asia and the custodian of a huge scientific, cultural and architectural heritage. Today it is a rapidly developing country with a dynamic economy, which opens up its powerful potential to the world, - said the head of UNWTO. - We clearly observe the formation of favorable conditions for the implementation of business initiatives, thanks to which the demand for external and internal tourism is growing rapidly. Uzbekistan is one of the recognized leading countries in the tourism sector. At the same time, the tourism industry of Uzbekistan is one of the youngest, but in its development it is ahead of many other industries.”

The head of the UNWTO also spoke warmly about the meeting with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 7 November 2022: “The President of Uzbekistan is deeply knowledgeable and understands tourism issues in great detail. I would like to express my strong support for the reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan under his leadership and express confidence that the upcoming 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand will be held at a decent level.”