Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 23-26 August 2021, the Training “Building Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan: An Enterprise Approach” will take place in Nukus, Karakalpakstan. 

The event is organized by the UNESCO Tashkent Office in close cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the framework of the Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development”.

Economic growth is key to addressing unemployment, gender equality, health and other poverty related issues worldwide. Enterprise development is an important tool and essential element to economic growth and tourism development in Karakalpakstan. In this regard, UNESCO supports the development of sustainable tourism by integrating enterprise approach which leads to the sustaining livelihoods of local population, including women and youth, in the region.

The training is aimed at building the capacity of professionals in the fields of tourism, cultural and natural heritage protection and management as well as local communities and other stakeholders in the development of sustainable tourism through an enterprise approach.

The event is a follow-up to the training on “Development of Heritage-based Sustainable Tourism in Karakalpakstan” organized from 18 to 21 November 2020 in Nukus, Karakalpakstan. In particular, the training sessions builds upon the previous training and focuses on what can be done at the level of businesses and the relevant heritage and tourism organisations in Karakalpakstan. Each session will also seek to identify further training needs and support measures required.

The training looks at the tourism sector and enterprise opportunities that exist in the region, and how these can be secured, either by existing businesses or new enterprises. It focuses on marketing, communication and interpretation, generating stories and the importance of branding, as well as it will provide opportunities to discuss practical measures and solutions to address the needs and gaps in development of sustainable tourism in Karakalpakstan.

The UNDP and UNESCO Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development” is funded by 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 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.