Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Ministry of tourism and sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the support of the khokimiyat of Samarkand region and the Department for tourism development of the Samarkand region, organized an information tour for representatives of local and foreign media. The information tour program included the “Silk Road” international tourism university, the “Usmatboy” art gallery, the “Konigil” tourist village and the “Chess” thematic cafe.

As part of the info tour, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of tourism and sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aziz Abdukhakimov answered in detail all questions from representatives of the media.

The first place to visit was the “Silk Road” international tourism university, which was founded on June 28, 2018 at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, nominated at the SCO Summit in Qingdao (China). Today, the University is one of the most famous and prestigious higher educational institutions and the very first university in the field of tourism of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Central Asia.

The university offers training in almost all possible areas and specialties of bachelorʼs and masterʼs degrees in tourism, combining three major areas: communications, economic and human sciences. The full-time bachelorʼs degree program includes more than 20 areas: Marketing in the field of tourism; Tourism (by areas of activity: digital tourism), Designing in the field of tourism; Logistics in tourism activities; Management of public events; Tour guide and translation activities and others.

Since 2019, the “Silk Road” international tourism university has been implementing a joint 3 + 1 undergraduate educational program with the issuance of double degrees.

International University of Tourism “Silk Road” has contracts under the double degree program with such world universities as Guilin Tourism University (Peopleʼs Republic of China), High school of logistics (Czech Republic), Sahid Polytechnic in Jakarta (Indonesia), Sahid institute of Tourism of Surakarta (Indonesia)

Then the journalists got acquainted with the picture gallery, “Usmatboy”, which is located in one of the most beautiful districts of Samarkand, opposite the Registan Square. Gallery “Usmatboy” is a center of spirituality and enlightenment. Here you can see the works of many famous artists and sculptors of Uzbekistan. This gallery was opened after reconstruction on March 22 of this year, during which an exhibition of works by Nuriddin Kalonov “The Path of Creativity” was organized. The exhibition featured over 500 works by the artist.

The works of the masters presented in this gallery touch on different topics: historical, everyday, lyrical. But there is one thing that unites them. They show the artist's love for his people, his history, the nature of his native land. Not only residents of the city are familiar with the wonderful work of the masters. Numerous tourists, along with other historical monuments of the ancient city, also visit “Usmatboy”. Every 2-3 months a new art exhibition is held in “Usmatboy”.

In addition, as part of the info tour, the journalists visited the tourist village of “Konigil”, Samarkand region. As the picturesque nature of the tourist village, its long historical value, this is a place where handicrafts are developed, recognized by local and foreign tourists. The inhabitants of this village, known for its crafts, agriculture, and animal husbandry, are also renowned for their hospitality.

In addition to the production of Samarkand paper, in the craft center “Konigil meros”, on the basis of ancient traditions, the production of ceramics and joinery, as well as oil has been established. In addition, there is a pavilion that allows you to enjoy a unique view from above.

Also, each guest has the opportunity to taste pilaf made from rice and oil grown in this place. In short, in the tourist village of “Konigil”, tourists can have a cultural rest, get acquainted with folk crafts and traditions, as well as with the secrets of national crafts.

“Chess Café” (chess cafe), which started its activity on a gastronomic street in Samarkand, is also becoming one of the favorite tourist destinations of tourists. “Chess Café” was opened on the initiative of the entrepreneur Komiljon Negmatov. “The idea of   the decree of the President of our country“ On measures to further develop and popularize chess, as well as to improve the system of training chess players” gave me an impetus to open this thematic cafe,” he said. The cafe is designed for chess lovers, as evidenced by its internal environment. In addition to playing chess, you can taste national and Uyghur dishes here. Also in this cafe there is a place for holding chess tournaments, classes and demonstration parties.

Summing up, we can say that the tourism potential of the Samarkand region is very high, and new tourist facilities and the types of tourism developing in them prove this once again. So travel around Samarkand and you will have the opportunity to see for yourself that everything is really the case.