Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with a presentation on the outcomes of international cultural events, further objectives for developing the tourism sector, and the creation of major cultural and tourism facilities, according to the presidential press service.
The Head of State noted the need to transition the tourism sector to a project management system, introduce a unified mechanism for creating and developing tourism products, and strengthen the coordination of major events.
Special attention was paid to the digitalization of the industry. The task was set to launch a National Tourist Platform with the integration of state and private information systems, introduce proactive digital services for tourists and entrepreneurs, expand cashless payments, and analyze tourist flows. Thanks to digitalization, it is planned to reduce the share of the shadow economy and increase the annual revenue of the tourist tax.
The need to implement a new marketing strategy to promote the country’s tourism potential in priority markets – the USA, the Persian Gulf countries, India, China, and Scandinavia – was emphasized. Tasks were set to expand Uzbekistan’s presence on international tourism platforms, develop digital content, and attract major media platforms and public opinion leaders. At the presentation, projects of major cultural and art facilities were reviewed.
The “Samarkand Heritage Trail” project is starting in Samarkand. A 6.6-kilometer unified tourist route will connect the Registan ensemble, the Bibi-Khanym and Shahi-Zinda complexes, and the Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory.
The project of the new Silk Road Museum in Samarkand, which provides for the construction of a modern three-story building with a total area of 19.5 thousand square meters, including an inclusive environment, exhibition halls, storage funds, and educational spaces, was presented.
The landscape design of the Mirzo Ulugbek Observatory is planned to be updated. A new museum building, immersive exhibition halls, a visitor center, and well-maintained pedestrian walkways will be created, integrating archaeological sites into a single museum environment.
A master plan for the city of Bukhara was also presented, which provides for the formation of a comfortable urban environment, the development of transport and tourism infrastructure, as well as the creation of a historical and ethnographic park as a multifunctional complex with a congress hall, an amphitheater, a library, a food hall, trade and commercial facilities, and a high-class hotel.
Following the discussion, the president emphasized the need to strictly link cultural projects with tourism development tasks, ensuring their economic sustainability and quality management.
