Doha – In a move that reflects the increasing awareness of the importance of the Gulf market in the global tourism map, the Republic of Uzbekistan organized the International Tourism Forum “Uzbekistan-Qatar”, yesterday evening, Thursday, in the Qatari capital, Doha, under the supervision of the Tourism Committee in Uzbekistan, and the support of the Uzbekistan embassy in Qatar.
The organization of the forum came at a time when Uzbekistan seeks to establish its position as a distinctive tourist destination for the audience of the Middle East, led by the State of Qatar, as a regional center for air transport and civilization communication, and then the forum represents an embodiment of this strategic trend, and confirms Tashkent’s desire to open up to new markets, diversify visitors of visitors, and attract Gulf tourists.
The forum also comes within the framework of Tashkent’s active policy in the field of foreign tourism and enhancing international cooperation in this sector, through a series of major events in the Arab countries during the period from 6 to 10 July, as the Tourism Forum “Uzbekistan, the pearl of the Silk Road”, was organized in the Sultanate of Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain to Qatar.
The forum constitutes a platform to deepen bilateral cooperation, promote tourism ingredients in Uzbekistan in the Middle East, and to enhance relations between representatives of the tourism sector in Uzbekistan and Qatar, where the participation of representatives of ministries and government agencies, leading tourism companies, aviation lines, investment and trade institutions from both countries.
The forum included a presentation entitled “Uzbekistan, the pearl of the Silk Road”, and highlighted the tourism capabilities in this Asian country, and its sites on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as well as distinguished tourism paths, projects and infrastructure, in addition to opportunities for religious, treatment and environmental tourism.
The Uzbek delegation included more than 40 representatives from various tourism and investment sectors, headed by the Chairman of the Tourism Committee in Uzbekistan, Omid Shadif, which reflects the interest in attracting the Qatari audience to tourism in Uzbekistan, and opening new horizons for sustainable partnership in this field.
The Pearl of Silk Road
During his speech in the forum, the Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Doha, Ashraf Khojayev, affirmed the depth of brotherly relations between Uzbekistan and Qatar, praising the common values that bring together the two peoples, foremost of which is the respect of the family, faith, traditions and human ties.
“Today we stand in the heart of Doha, the city of culture and warmth, to confirm that Uzbekistan and Qatar are not only linked to diplomatic relations, but they are gathered with firm values that stem from originality, identity and cultural heritage.”
He added that the forum is more than just an occasion, as it is an open invitation to discover Uzbekistan through its stories, spirit and people, stressing that it wants visitors from Qatar to live the entire Uzbek experience, where the ancient Islamic heritage, authentic hospitality, various cuisine, and historical cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Sher Zar, which still beats life and history.
Ambassador Khojayev added, in a statement to Al -Jazeera Net, that there are many great facilities that his country offers in the field of travel and tourism, including that more than 100 nationalities can enter Uzbekistan without a visa, in light of a flexible and wicked policy.
The Uzbek Ambassador pointed out that the distance between Doha and Uzbekistan does not exceed 3 and a half hours by plane through regular flights for Qatar Airlines.
Khojayev called for Qatari travel agencies and all partners in the tourism sector to build long -term partnerships with their counterparts in Uzbekistan, whose officials stress that they are not only welcoming tourism and tourists, but are welcome to friendship, and said, “We invite you with all welcoming to be part of a common future on the new silk road.”
Commercial bilateral meetings
The work of the forum witnessed bilateral commercial meetings in “B2B” and “G2B”, “G2B”, and the first means direct meetings between representatives of companies and tourism institutions in both countries to exchange opportunities and commercial offers, and to discuss ways of cooperation and sign professional partnerships.
As for the meetings of “GOB”, they are the direct meetings between government agencies and representatives of the private sector to discuss policies and facilities, and to encourage investment in the tourism sector.
The meetings received wide attention, as they gave way to establishing direct relations between workers in the tourism sector and discussing the mechanisms for promoting the tourism product, and it was agreed to organize introductory trips to Uzbekistan for tourist and media trips operators from Qatar.
The event included the organization of a promotional photo exhibition that includes landscapes and architectural landmarks from Uzbekistan, along with traditional handicrafts, with the sacrifice of authentic Uzbek cuisine.
10 million visitors
In a statement to Al -Jazeera Net, the head of the Tourism Committee in Uzbekistan, Omid Shadiev, said that the forum comes as an affirmation of the depth of the growing brotherly relations between Tashkent and Doha, and the common desire to enhance tourism cooperation in a way that serves mutual interests, and increases the number of Qatari tourists to Uzbekistan.
As long as Uzbekistan, with its ancient civilization and its rich historical heritage across the centuries, is a basic station on the Silk Road, and today Tashkent reinforces this historical depth through a modern and comprehensive tourism vision, as it includes distinct features, advanced infrastructure and stunning mountainous and mountainous resorts, and ingredients for religious, cultural and therapeutic tourism.
Shadiev reviewed the tourism development witnessed in his country, explaining that since Uzbek President Shawkat Mirzayev announced in 2017 the tourism sector declared a strategic engine for his country’s economy, this sector witnessed qualitative leaps, in 2024 the country received more than 10 million visitors, and achieved returns exceeding 3.5 billion dollars, pointing to the presence of a government plan to raise the number to 50 million tourists annually by 2030.
Flights growth
The Chairman of the Tourism Committee in Uzbekistan pointed out that tourism is a major axis in the momentum witnessed by the relations between his country and Qatar, citing the existence of a system of mutual exemption from visas, and the launch of direct flights between Doha and Tashkent through the Qatari Airlines, which facilitated the movement of tourism and investment between the two parties.
Shadiev said that his country is looking to launch new air paths from Qatar to destinations such as Samarkand and Bukhara, organizing joint tourism and cultural programs, and activating the exchange in the fields of sports, therapeutic, educational, and conference tourism and exhibitions.