Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- From 18 to 21 November 2020, a training on “Development of the Heritage-Based Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan” will be held in Nukus, the Republic Karakalpakstan, for 30 tourism and culture professionals as well as specialists in the field of natural heritage and local communities. 

This event is organized by the UNESCO Tashkent Office in close cooperation with the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development within the project “Addressing human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development”*.

The training is aimed at building the capacity of professionals and local communities in tourism development together with its management and marketing, based on the natural and cultural heritage of Karakalpakstan.

The 4-day training programme seeks to explore the principles and the practices of developing tourism in a sustainable way, including the adoption of sustainable tourism production practices.

Online training sessions will be conducted by Dr Mike Robinson, Professor of Cultural Heritage and Director of the Ironbridge International Institute of Cultural Heritage (UK).

The training will cover methods of tourism development and ways in which they can be operationalized, as well as trends and issues facing tourism destinations. 

Drawing upon examples from various parts of the world and also from the needs and resources of Karakalpakstan, the training sessions aim to build a coherent and collaborative approach to tourism that meets with future market needs and the ambitions of local communities. 

*The project “Addressing human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development” was launched in 2019 and funded by the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF).

The aim of the project is to address the environmental, social and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through comprehensive solutions in addressing the environmental issues, promoting access to basic services, improving the living standards and developing the sustainable tourism in Karakalpakstan. 

Moreover, the project’s objective is to enhance the social wellbeing of the rural population, including women and youth, through expanding income generation opportunities and promoting inclusive sustainable growth of the tourism sector in Karakalpakstan, built on community-based and eco-tourism in the Aral Sea region.