Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 13 November 2019, a grand opening of the 25th Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” (TITF-2019) was held at UzExpoCenter.

In recent years, the tourism industry has become the main link in the socio-economic development of the countries of the world and providing employment. This is confirmed by the fact that more than 10.4 percent of world GDP, 7 percent of trade and 10 percent of employment falls on tourism. For 38 percent of the countries of the world, tourism is the main source of income, for 83 percent - one of the five sources of income.

The tourist market of Uzbekistan is full of interesting and progressive events. Tashkent International Tourism Fair - "Tourism on the Silk Road" (TITF) - is the brightest, largest event in the tourism industry of Uzbekistan and the entire Central Asian region.

TITF has been held since 1995 with official support from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Every year, tourism professionals from all over the world gather at the exhibition.

The purpose of the event is to create an international platform for the exchange of experience, dialogue and joint efforts to promote and develop the cultural, historical and natural heritage of the Silk Road, creating a platform for discussing plans and further possible cooperation.

The main organizers of the event are the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the Development of Tourism and the State Unitary Enterprise "National PR Center".

This year, companies from Korea, Egypt, Malaysia, India, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Russia, Georgia, China, the Republic of Belarus, Indonesia and the UAE have confirmed their participation in the fair. At the same time, Georgia will participate in TITF for the first time. Also in the list of foreign participants are guests from Singapore, Turkey, Israel, Korea, Belgium and France.

- I note that more than 80% of tourists in the world know about the Silk Road, and the international magazine Forbes recognized the Silk Road as one of the most powerful brands. Our country occupies a special place here; Uzbekistan has been assigned the status of “The Heart of the Silk Road”. That is why TITF is a particularly significant event for us. The fair is gaining more and more momentum every year; more and more foreign and domestic colleagues and business partners are taking part in it. - says the acting chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the development of tourism A. Akkulov. - In particular, over the 10 months of this year, the number of foreign tourists visiting our country amounted to 5.5 million people. This indicator compared to the same period last year is higher by 26% (for 10 months of 2018 - 4.4 million people).

From our country, various hotels, travel companies, secondary special and higher educational institutions in the field of tourism and other organizations will take part in the fair.

Traditionally, the International and National Pavilions will be located at the venue of the Uzexpocenter.

The opening ceremony of the city of Tashkent, Jahongir Artikhodjaev, coordinator of the Europe Department of the UN World Tourism Organization Peter Yanni, as well as the ambassador of the tourist brand of Uzbekistan in Russia Yuri Stoyanov, also spoke at the opening ceremony.

“I sincerely invite everyone to love this amazing country - Uzbekistan, which at one time saved the life of my mother, me and my millions of compatriots (during the Second World War). Try Uzbekistan to taste, see it with your eyes and feel it with your sincere heart! - called on the guests Yuri Stoyanov.

Presentation stands of the regions of Uzbekistan will be presented in the National Pavilion, demonstrating the peculiarities of the national culture and tourism potential of each region of the country, as well as the exposition “City of Artisans”.

The stands of international transport companies, government organizations, diplomatic missions, tourist and resort destinations, both in Uzbekistan and abroad, will be located in the International Pavilion.

“As we know, the tourism sector in Uzbekistan has been defined as a strategic sector of the national economy not long ago. However, despite this, tourism is currently one of the most dynamically developing sectors and is gaining growth rates, the effect of which is observed in the growth of regional incomes from the tourism sector, the broad involvement of the population in entrepreneurial activity and an increase in the number of jobs, ”noted his speech Hokim of Tashkent city Jahongir Artikhodjaev.

The Fair will include such vibrant events as the Oriental Bazaar, the Silk Road Taste Festival of National Dishes, the International Forum of Tourism Brand Ambassadors of Uzbekistan, the presentation of the Shakhrisabz International Festival of National Clothing, a workshop for craftsmen and an exhibition of products, the first tourist forum of Uzbekistan and Russia and other events.

In addition, during the event, awarding ceremonies will be held for the winners of the national contest on creating social videos on the theme “Tourism in Uzbekistan”, the winners of the republican contest PhotoBattle “Selfie & Tourism”, and at the end of the fair - the annual graduation ceremony “Nomination of the tourist season”.

Uzbek cuisine, one of the richest and most colorful in the East. Located at the crossroads of caravan roads of the Great Silk Road, Uzbekistan for many centuries has absorbed the most interesting and unusual recipes of dishes from various countries. Within the framework of the exhibition TITF-2019, on the adjacent territory of the exhibition complex, the Festival of National Dishes “Taste of the Silk Road” will be held, the main theme of which will be a gastronomic journey along the Great Silk Road. As part of the festival of national dishes, the best chefs of the country will conduct culinary master classes.

TITF-2019 includes a number of international and local projects in the field of tourism and culture, with an emphasis on the development of the business environment. So, from November 13 to 15, a series of presentations will be held as part of the exhibition, both tourist destinations in Uzbekistan and foreign countries. Among them, presentations on the topic “Innovations in the field of tourism”, “Benefits and preferences provided to businesses in the tourism sector”, presentations of the mobile application “Official Guide of Uzbekistan”, projects in the field of smart tourism, etc.

This year, 50 representatives of foreign media from 17 countries are planning to participate in the Hosted Buyers program.

From November 13 to November 15, the trade stalls of the participants of the East Bazaar exposition will work. A fair in the national style will be organized on the territory of the Uzexpocenter exhibition center to demonstrate the color and features of trade in the bazaars of Uzbekistan. The event will be attended by artisans from the regions of Uzbekistan and folk groups.

The Silk Road in historical projection is a unique cultural value for humanity, as well as a link in the development of tourism, the economy and the socio-cultural transformation of all countries. The UNWTO and other authoritative international UN organizations pay special attention not only to the study and preservation of the cultural, historical and natural heritage, but also to the creation of favorable socio-economic conditions for the development of tourism on it.

According to a study conducted by UNWTO by the world’s largest Trip Advisor website, more than 80% of travelers in the world know about the Silk Road, and Forbes, the international magazine, has recognized the Silk Road as one of the most powerful brands.

Uzbekistan occupies a special place here, which rightfully retains the status of “the heart of the Silk Road”, and which is an active participant in the transcontinental project of the UN, UNWTO and UNESCO on the revival of tourism on the ancient, historic Silk Road route.