Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Zurab Pololikashvili, the UN Secretary-General for Tourism, who is visiting Uzbekistan, attended the International Academy of Tourism in Samarkand, which opened its doors in October 2023.

The Academy, inaugurated on 20 October 2023, during the 25th anniversary session of the UN World Tourism Organization General Assembly in Samarkand, serves as a regional hub for training qualified personnel in the tourism sector.

The educational process is conducted in English by highly qualified specialists from Swiss hospitality schools. Over the next three years, the Academy plans to retrain 2,740 mid-level professionals.

In the first academic year, the Academy will admit 220 students for the hospitality management program. From the second academic year onward, 1,260 representatives from three directions will be trained annually. Starting in January 2025, retraining courses for 200 students are planned.

Graduates of the Academy will become highly skilled professionals in sought-after areas of tourism, with diplomas and certificates recognized by all UN member states. They will gain practical experience through internships with UN Tourism and other international partner organizations, and may also work with these organizations.

During his visit to the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage "Silk Road," a ceremonial event was held where the Minister of Ecology and the Rector of the University, Aziz Abdukhamidov, awarded Zurab Pololikashvili with the title of Honorary Professor of the University.