A series of working meetings dedicated to preparations for the international presentation of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Uzbekistan and the contribution of the region's great scholars and thinkers to the development of world civilization was held in Paris with the support of the Permanent Delegation of Uzbekistan to UNESCO, reports Dunyo IA.
The presentation is an initiative of the President of Uzbekistan aimed at introducing the international community to the country's rich scientific and cultural heritage, the activities of its specialized research institutions, and the religious and educational reforms being implemented nationwide.
During meetings with representatives of UNESCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Uzbek delegation presented the concept for an international conference and exhibition planned to be held at UNESCO Headquarters. The events are expected to bring together UNESCO Member States, international organizations, scholars, and experts.
Mariagrazia Squicciarini, Head of UNESCO's Executive Office, welcomed the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan, emphasizing its importance in strengthening dialogue among nations. She highly praised the country's efforts to study and promote the legacy of its outstanding scholars and thinkers, underscoring the unifying role of education, science, and culture, and reaffirmed the readiness of UNESCO's relevant departments to contribute to the preparation of the event.
Mehrdad Shabahang, Head of UNESCO's Silk Roads Programme, highlighted the historic role of Uzbekistan and Central Asia in the transmission of knowledge and the development of cultural ties between East and West. He also expressed the programme's readiness to provide relevant materials to support preparations for the conference and exhibition.
Salima Delibey, Representative of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to UNESCO, highly commended Uzbekistan's reforms in the field of religious enlightenment, as well as the work of the Center of Islamic Civilization and the country's international research centers. She confirmed the OIC's readiness to support the forthcoming events.
Soumia Jakta, Permanent Observer of ICESCO to UNESCO, stressed the significance of Uzbekistan's scientific and cultural heritage for the international community and reaffirmed the organization's willingness to participate in preparations for the conference and exhibition.
Following the meetings, representatives of UNESCO, the OIC, and ICESCO reaffirmed their support for Uzbekistan's initiative and expressed their readiness to assist in organizing the events at a high international level.
The international presentation is intended to showcase Uzbekistan's scientific and cultural heritage as an integral part of world civilization and to serve as a platform for strengthening dialogue among nations through education, science, and culture.
An event entitled “Umrah Plus Tourism: Strategic Tourism Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Egypt” was held in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The event was organised by the International Tourism Association “Umrah Plus” (UPITA), in cooperation with the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Egypt. Participants included representatives of Egyptian government bodies, tour operators, travel agencies and the media.
The main objective was to promote Uzbekistan among Egyptian travellers not only as a pilgrimage destination but also as an attractive country offering a wide range of opportunities for nature-based recreation, winter tourism, agritourism and gastronomic travel. Particular emphasis was placed on establishing direct partnerships between tour operators in the two countries, developing joint tourism products and identifying practical measures to ensure sustainable growth in tourist arrivals from Egypt to Uzbekistan.
As part of the event, a presentation entitled “Uzbekistan: Mountains, Snow and Flavours” showcased tourism opportunities that remain relatively unfamiliar to Egyptian travellers. These included winter recreation and skiing, Zaamin National Park, the Aydar-Arnasay lake system, the rich natural heritage of Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions, as well as Uzbek national cuisine and traditional handicrafts.
Participants also received detailed information about the country’s key tourist attractions, highlighting Uzbekistan’s potential as a destination for family holidays.
Two sample itineraries were presented to Egyptian tour operators: the eight-day “Mountains, Flavours and Heritage” tour, covering Tashkent, Chimgan–Charvak, the Fergana Valley and Samarkand, and the seven-day “Nature and Flavours” tour along the Amirsoy–Zaamin–Aydarkul–Samarkand route.
Following the event, proposals were put forward to organise familiarisation trips for Egyptian tour operators and journalists, conduct joint marketing activities, arrange B2B meetings with inbound tour operators from Uzbekistan, and provide partners with promotional and informational materials in Arabic.
In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at attracting tourists from Egypt to Uzbekistan was signed by the Egyptian Tourism Federation, Dahab Group, Best Control and the International Tourism Association “Umrah Plus”.
These initiatives are important for attracting Egyptian visitors during the winter and spring seasons. Integrating pilgrimage tourism with nature-based, winter and gastronomic experiences will help broaden Uzbekistan’s tourism offerings and steadily increase the flow of travellers from Egypt throughout the year.