The second day of the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Samarkand has concluded. At the expo center located within the “Great Silk Road” International Tourist Center, the Global Investment Forum commenced, with the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov and Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization Zurab Pololikashvili both stressing the importance of the event. Mr. Abdukhakimov spoke of the reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan to develop tourism, as well as the country’s potential in this field. He also mentioned that independent international organizations have evaluated the current state of tourism in the country as stable, and that by 2024, the number of tourists visiting is expected to reach 10 million. During the Global Investment Forum, many innovative initiatives and practical proposals were presented to enhance world tourism. The UNWTO Executive Director Natalia Bayona presented the global trends in investing in tourism, and the UNWTO investment program. Ministers responsible for the tourism sector of countries that are renowned in the global tourism sector, such as the Maldives, Colombia, Albania, and Spain, shared their views on solving current issues in the industry. At the end of the forum, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili gave the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov a special guide called “Tourism Doing Business. Investing in Uzbekistan”. The program of the two-day forum included five specialized sessions and presentations from 22 countries and foreign structures. The event was attended by 634 representatives from about 100 countries, including 122 large foreign investors and 540 domestic companies. The 119th session of the UNWTO Executive Council also took place. The Samarkand Forum is ongoing.
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