Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 10 October, the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Silk Road: Cooperation through the Lens of Tourism" commenced in Tashkent. The event was opened by Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee.

In his opening speech, Shadiev highlighted that one of the key tasks today is to prepare qualified personnel for the tourism sector and to conduct scientific research for further development of the industry. He emphasized that currently, more than 11,500 students are studying tourism at 35 higher education institutions in Uzbekistan, and over 2,000 are enrolled in vocational training centers. He also mentioned a recent presidential decree aimed at improving the training system in this sector, which will enhance the quality of education based on the experiences of leading countries.

The goal of the conference is to exchange experiences and strengthen partnerships between Silk Road countries, as well as to develop a unified tourism development strategy for the region.

Over 250 participants, including representatives from Azerbaijan, Egypt, India, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, the USA, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Japan, have been invited to the conference. During the plenary session and sectional meetings, 50 speakers presented reports on topics related to historical processes along the Silk Road, cultural heritage, and the prospects for developing the region's tourism potential. Special attention was given to "green" technologies and environmental safety issues.

One of the key events of the conference was the ceremony for awarding the title of "Honorary Professor of the Research Institute for Tourism Development," as well as the signing of memorandums of cooperation between the Institute and several national and international partners.

The conference will continue its work on 11 October.