Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The prestigious international event brought together around 100 major tour operators, representatives of tourism companies, public and private sector stakeholders, and industry experts from more than 20 countries. Uzbekistan hosted the summit for the first time in 2026. Previously, the event had been held in such major tourism destinations as Türkiye, Egypt, Vietnam and Tanzania.

Participants were presented with information on Uzbekistan’s tourism potential, opportunities for developing ecotourism and ongoing reforms in the sector. The event focused on the development of sustainable tourism, the rational use of natural resources and the expansion of international cooperation.

At the official opening ceremony, welcoming remarks were delivered by Sandjar Tadjiyev, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as Murtaza Kalender, CEO of TravelShop Group of Companies and President of the Istanbul Tourism Association.

International experts, including Anis Sehili, an expert on the tourism market of the Middle East and North Africa, and Roberto Garibaldi, Professor at the University of Bergamo, delivered presentations on current trends in sustainable tourism, new tourism products and international best practices.

An important part of the event was the series of B2B meetings, which provided a platform for bilateral negotiations between international and Uzbek tour operators. The meetings resulted in practical agreements to establish new partnerships and implement joint tourism projects.

Following the main summit program, international guests will continue their familiarization tours across Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara regions, along with additional business meetings. These visits will provide foreign delegates with an opportunity to experience Uzbekistan’s millennia-old history, rich cultural heritage and vast tourism potential firsthand, as well as gain practical insight into regional tourism projects.