Belarus and Uzbekistan have committed to enhancing tourism through a collaboration between their trade unions. This agreement was reached at an international meeting hosted by the Federation of Trade Unions of Belarus (FTUB) on 20 May, as reported by the FTUB press service.
The meeting included prominent figures such as the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Belarus, Rakhmatulla Nazarov, representatives from Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, and FTUB Chairman Yuri Senko. Also present were officials from the Belprofsoyuzkurort health resort enterprise and the Belarustourist tourism company.
Umid Shadiev, Chairman of Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee, praised Belarus's efforts in preserving its historical, cultural, and natural heritage.
"Belarus has immense potential for tourism development," he said. "For Uzbeks, Belarus will be a desirable destination offering health tourism, cultural sites, historical landmarks, and unique natural attractions."
Belarusian trade unions have a wealth of attractions to offer foreign tourists. The Belprofsoyuzkurort system includes 12 high-category sanatoriums across Belarus, capable of accommodating over 4,500 people for treatment and recuperation. Belarustourist, the oldest tour operator in Belarus, offers a wide range of historical and cultural routes. In 2023, it organized over 14,000 tourist and excursion events, engaging more than 500,000 participants.
Yuri Senko, FTUB Chairman, emphasized the robust inter-country relations and the potential for enhanced cooperation, particularly in tourism, a crucial economic sector.
Uzbekistan is renowned for its unique tourist attractions, including UNESCO World Heritage sites, in Samarkand and Bukhara, natural reserves, and ski resorts. All of which would be a big draw for Belarussian tourists. Uzbekistan's target of welcoming 10 mn tourists in 2024 seems to be well within reach with 974,200 tourist arrivals in 2M24, up 11.9% y/y. The majority of visitors came from Tajikistan (363,300), Kyrgyzstan (291,100), and Kazakhstan (155,900) with only 2,200 coming from Belarus.
The meeting addressed the accessibility of bilateral tourism concerning transport logistics and costs, and considered the exchange of organized tourist groups and concluded with an agreement for cooperation between Belarustourist, Belprofsoyuzkurort, and similar organizations in Uzbekistan.
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