Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 12 April, the International Islamic Academy hosted a scientific and practical conference on the topic "Actual problems and the importance of pilgrimage tourism in Uzbekistan".

The events organized by the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage were attended by representatives of the Committee for Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Committee for Interethnic Relations and Friendly Relations with Foreign Countries, the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan, the Institute for Tourism Development under the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, representatives of the Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva under the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, as well as students of the International Islamic Academy.

The participants of the conference discussed issues of creating a single brand of pilgrimage tourism, considered current problems and experience of the regions in the development of pilgrimage tourism

“In order to train highly qualified specialists in the field of domestic and pilgrimage tourism, there are currently 2 research institutes (in the areas of tourism and cultural heritage), 4 colleges, 6 technical schools and the Silk International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage in the system of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage. way, located in Samarkand. International events are being held in the country to form scientifically based information about shrines, scientists and their scientific heritage and to comprehensively study the potential of pilgrimage tourism and systematize data,” said Temur Mirzaev, Advisor to the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage.

There are 784 Islamic shrines in Uzbekistan, there are 19 Christian shrines and 8 objects of Buddhist cultural heritage in the region. A number of cultural events are being held to popularize Jewish and Buddhist shrines, to create films about Uzbek scientists in foreign languages, the International Hadith Competition of Imam al-Bukhari and the Islamic calligraphy competition are being held.

The head of the department for the development of domestic and pilgrimage tourism, Zhakhongi Saidov, made a report on the problems of pilgrimage tourism and issues that will be resolved in the course of joint work. A proposal was put forward for a systematic approach to problems, that is, establishing contacts for a constant exchange of views and a systematic exchange of information.

The report of Nurislam Tukhliyev, professor of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan department, notes the need to create an innovative approach to pilgrimage tourism, emphasizes that work has begun on creating an online platform.

The head of the pilgrimage tourism department of the Committee for Religious Affairs under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Babomurod Rustamov, dwelled on the religions, religious denominations and organizations existing in Uzbekistan, the potential of pilgrimage tourism in the country and the concept of enlightening Islam. Further, the head of the pilgrimage tourism department of the Center for Islamic Civilization of Uzbekistan Saidkomil Kholkhodzhaev made a report on topical issues of creating a single brand of pilgrimage tourism in Uzbekistan, the significance of the brand and its significance in the field of tourism.