Uzbekistan Becomes the Center of the International Tourism Dialogue on the Silk Road
2025-07-04 20:05:00 / News
This annual event serves as the main platform of the WTA aimed at strengthening international cooperation in tourism, promoting innovative solutions, developing talent, revitalizing rural areas, and deepening cultural integration.
The forum was attended by the Secretary-General of the UN Tourism Zurab Pololikashvili, Chairman of the Tourism Committee Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the WTA Zhang Xu, as well as more than 250 delegates — officials, representatives of international organizations, tourism associations, industry experts, and media representatives.
The plenary sessions and thematic panels of the forum were dedicated to the most pressing issues of the industry: development trends of the tourism markets in China and Central Asia, new opportunities for tourism along the Silk Road routes, digital promotion strategies, as well as the creation of unique tourism products for countries in the region.
Special attention was paid to the presentation of the Joint Roadmap of the UN Tourism and the WTA aimed at the sustainable development of local communities through tourism. Additionally, a series of B2B meetings was held within the framework of the forum to strengthen business cooperation.
The event was held under the motto “Building a Better Future Through Silk Road Dialogue” and included both official sessions and cultural programs, including the evening presentation “Hangzhou Night.” This symbolic title emphasizes the importance of cultural ties within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Uzbekistan’s selection as the venue was no coincidence: the country is actively developing partnerships with China and other BRI countries, strengthening political, economic, and humanitarian relations. The dialogue in Samarkand gave a strong impetus to further market research, the creation of new tourist routes, and the enhancement of international exchange.
The World Tourism Alliance, established in 2017 in Chengdu, China, brings together 259 members from 45 countries. Supported by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China, the organization seeks to promote tourism as a force for sustainable development, improving quality of life, and global understanding.
The recent forum in Samarkand once again proved that tourism is a powerful tool for international cooperation and sustainable development, and that Uzbekistan is an indispensable and promising participant in this process on the modern Silk Road.