The fair was organized at the official support of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The TITF was included to calendar of international tourism exhibitions of the UNWTO.

Speaking at the press conference in Tashken, chairperson of Uzbektourism national company Farrukh Rizaev said the exhibition will occupy 10,000 square meters. According to organizers, some 655 companies will attend the event, including 65 foreign companies.

Farrukh Rizaev said that the Government of Uzbekistan pays great attention to development of tourism in the country. He added that the Government adopted the programmes on developing tourism in Khorezm and Tashkent regions this year.

He underlined that similar programme will be also adopted for Kashkadarya region soon. He said that the programmes are directed at developing tourism infrastructure and diversification of tourism products.

Uzbektourism chief said that over 2 million people visit Uzbekistan annually, of which 600,000 are tourists. He said that these are mainly educated people, who are interested in history. Rizaev said that tourism sector of Uzbekistan should develop active and extreme tourism to attract more young tourists as well.

He also stated that the country should increase number of hotels as there is shortage of rooms in some regions of Uzbekistan. He noted that the country is addressing the problem within the approved programmes.

Rizaev said that Uzbekistan should also develop internal tourism. He added that internal tourism plays key role in economies of many countries.

Speaking about fair, Farangiz Abdullaev, director of advertisement agency Great Silk Road, noted that the fair will include national and international pavilions.

Promotion of inbound and internal tourism is one of key priorities of TITF. The fair presents national pavilion called “Travel to Uzbekistan”. The pavilion provides information about development of tourism in Uzbekistan, stands of regional administrations, tourism companies, educational and health centers, theatres, museums, etc.

International pavilion attracted representatives of foreign tourism businesses. Farangiz Abdullaev said that Romania and Slovakia will participate in the fair for the first time this year.

Abdullaev underlined that the fair will have medical and gastronomy sections as well. It is also planned to hold conferences, presentations, seminars, and other events, she said.

Currently, Uzbekistan has 800 tourism companies, including 500 hotels, tourism bases and campings, and 300 tour operators.

Uzbekistan joined the UNWTO in 1993 and it is actively participant in transcontinental project “Great Silk Road”.

Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” has been organized annually since 1994 within the transcontinental project “Great Silk Road”.