The United Nations World Tourism Organization's (UNWTO) 25th General Assembly officially commenced in the historic city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and opened with a warm and optimistic address by His Excellency Aziz Abdurakhimov, the Minister of Tourism and Sports for Uzbekistan. The event is taking place in a city celebrated for its rich history, diversity, and its role as a central hub on the ancient Silk Road.
The opening ceremony saw a gathering of distinguished dignitaries, including the UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, ministers, heads of delegations, and participants from around the world. Abdurakhimov began by acknowledging the warm welcome extended by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan to all attendees, underlining the President's unwavering commitment to the future development of tourism and unveiling seven key initiatives.
Samarkand, the chosen host city for this momentous event, holds significant historical and cultural importance. Situated at the heart of the Silk Road, it was a crucial bridge between East and West, emblematic of diversity as the shared home of over 100 nationalities. This ancient city serves as an open-air museum, a symbol of science and learning, a historical trade center, and a gateway to a new Uzbekistan.
In his speech, Minister Abdurakhimov expressed gratitude to the UNWTO and fellow member states for their support and guidance throughout Uzbekistan's journey to host the General Assembly. The Minister emphasized that today's event was not the result of chance but rather the outcome of five years of unprecedented reforms in the tourism sector. These reforms included a significant overhaul of the visa policy, enabling nearly 100 nationalities to visit Uzbekistan visa-free, collaboration with international partners, substantial investments in infrastructure, and unwavering support from the Head of State.
As the country prepared to host the General Assembly, Uzbekistan laid out a visionary roadmap for tourism and implemented necessary legal and business frameworks. A substantial public investment of $1bn went into essential infrastructure development, including the restoration of historic sites, construction of bridges and roads, and upgrades to water and energy supplies.
Notably, this public investment also spurred $2bn in private sector participation, demonstrating the value of public-private cooperation. The private sector contributed by constructing 60 new hotels and renovating 40 more, developing the new terminal at Samarkand Airport, and creating the Silk Road Samarkand, Central Asia's largest MICE-tourism complex, with many of these projects dedicated to green investments.
The General Assembly was celebrated as a collective achievement, not only for the government but also for every citizen, company, and stakeholder in Uzbekistan's burgeoning tourism industry.
Minister Abdurakhimov emphasized the significance of the tourism sector on a global scale, calling it the fastest-growing sector of the world economy. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, global tourism has demonstrated resilience and rapid recovery, which holds paramount importance as many countries look to tourism to reinvigorate their economies and address socio-economic challenges. In 2022, nearly 1 bn people traveled worldwide, reaching 66% of pre-pandemic levels. Uzbekistan is poised to receive approximately 7 mn international tourists this year, a significant increase from 2016, with plans to further elevate this number to 10 mn arrivals in the coming year.
The future of tourism in Uzbekistan will be shaped by the initiatives introduced by President Mirziyoyev during the General Assembly. These initiatives include formulating a tourism strategy for 2030, expanding flight, road, and rail networks, and implementing the Open Sky regime at every airport to attract and transport tourists.
Another promising development is the intention to establish a thematic office, "Tourism on the Silk Road," to coordinate regional tourism activities and unlock the potential of the Silk Road as a global brand.
Minister Abdurakhimov closed his address by underlining the focus of the 25th session of the General Assembly on the development of sustainable tourism. He commended UNWTO's efforts to transform tourism into a major driver of the global economy and highlighted President Mirziyoyev's emphasis on the green agenda and education, which will be vital in realizing tourism's potential.
The Global Investment Forum discussed investments aligned with people, the planet, and prosperity. A momentous agreement was reached between the Uzbek Government and UNWTO to establish the UNWTO International Tourism Academy in Samarkand, a lasting legacy of this General Assembly. This academy will prepare highly qualified tourism professionals for UNWTO member states.
In his concluding remarks, Minister Abdurakhimov extended a warm and hopeful welcome to all attendees and wished for a productive and successful 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly. He celebrated Uzbekistan's rich culture, art, traditions, and hospitality, expressing the hope that this week would yield cherished memories for all those visiting.
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