Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 31 July, Tashkent hosted a business forum featuring representatives from the tourism sectors of the People’s Republic of China.

The forum focused on promoting Uzbekistan’s tourism potential in China and strengthening business ties between tourism industry representatives of the two countries.

Organized by Uzbekistan’s “Travel Together” and China’s “Fei Jing Tourism,” with support from the Tourism Committee, the forum brought together officials, business leaders, investors, and executives from leading hotel brands and tourism companies from both countries.

“We had around 45,000 Chinese tourists visit Uzbekistan last year, and this year we anticipate a significant increase in this number. In this context, the bilateral tourism relations between Uzbekistan and China are crucial. The growing interest in exploring Uzbekistan’s historical landmarks, rich cultural heritage, and scenic beauty benefits both countries through tourist exchange,” said Wei Jie, head of “Fei Jing Tourism.”

“To significantly boost the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan, we are working on new projects. Last year, ‘Travel Together’ organized trips for about 10,000 Chinese nationals to Uzbekistan. We are also developing affordable travel packages for our country’s population and organizing quality trips. It’s essential to highlight that these initiatives are vital for enhancing the quality of leisure for citizens of both countries. Our company is leveraging considerable experience and has recently launched direct flights from China to Tashkent and Samarkand in collaboration with ‘Long Air,’” stated Bobur Mirzaakhmedov, founder of “Travel Together.”

During the forum, B2B meetings were held between Uzbek and Chinese representatives to discuss the current state of the tourism sector and explore new opportunities for cooperation. The forum concluded with the signing of several agreements and memorandums of understanding between tourism companies from both countries.

The Tourism Committee delegation participated in exhibitions and fairs in Urumqi, Shanghai, and Shenzhen from 19 to 25 January 2024. Additionally, throughout the year, the image of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector has been promoted on the online platform “Ctrip.com,” which has over 500 million subscribers. As a result, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan has now exceeded 30,000.