The 25th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is scheduled for October 16-20 this year in Samarkand. For the first time in history, Uzbekistan will host the General Assembly, the most important biennial event in the UN family system.

The event will bring together heads of government agencies, representatives of the industry, and international business corporations engaged in the tourism sector from about 160 countries. 

To date, heads of travel agencies from such countries as Saudi Arabia, Albania, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Côte d'Ivoire, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Monaco, Niger, Panama, Portugal, Sierra Leone, Ukraine, Uruguay and Yemen are expected to arrive in Samarkand.

It should be noted that Uzbekistan has been admitted as a member of the Committee on Credentials of the UNWTO Executive Council for 2023-2027. This means that Uzbekistan is entrusted with the authority to monitor the authenticity and compliance with the principles of important decisions and documents adopted by the UNWTO Executive Council.

This confidence granted to o our country at the international level demonstrates our country's strong position in the world tourism market, as well as the effectiveness of its activity in international relations.

Holding of the General Assembly in Uzbekistan opens up new opportunities for raising the status of our country in the international arena, further expanding relations with international organisations, and promote cultural and tourism potential.

The issues of international cooperation in the field of tourism will be discussed at panel sessions and a number of other large-scale conferences within the framework of the sessions of the General Assembly.

In particular, the Investment Forum to be held within the framework of the UNWTO will present the facilities, regions, and projects with high investment potential in all regions of our country to major foreign investors. It is expected to sign a number of important business agreements to attract targeted investments to our country. The Forum brings together global stakeholders, industry leaders and investors to explore opportunities in tourism and is aimed at demonstrating the favorable investment environment created in our country and a solid legal framework for attracting foreign investment, as well as developing cooperation between participants.

During the main sessions at the Investment Forum, the goal is to form a positive opinion of the world community about the investment environment of our country, and increase the interest of large foreign investors in investing in Uzbekistan. As an outcome of the event, it is expected to promote sustainable development by increasing the volume of investments in our country, further increasing the investment potential of our country and strengthening cooperation across sectors on a global scale.

Along with this, while preserving the rich cultural heritage and natural resources of Uzbekistan, it is planned to attract investments that will contribute to the economic growth of our country.

The Education Forum, which is expected to take place within the General Assembly, will demonstrate the importance of investing in tourism education today, improving skills and creating inclusive opportunities for all.

The event will showcase the latest developments in each field, including complementary initiatives developed by UNWTO with leading academic partners in secondary, higher and management education, a set of innovative educational tools and the teaching of new disciplines in the field of international sustainable tourism. The Forum's integrated programme aims to inspire and mobilize stakeholders, policy makers, professors and industry leaders for collective action.

During the event, UNWTO will also announce the Best Tourism Villages of the Year. For this purpose, tourism villages from around the world will be selected that have a developed tourism sector, that ensures development and prosperity, with the aim of ensuring the economic, social and environmental stability of the region, while preserving the traditional lifestyle and values of the people. We are pleased that a number of villages in our country are participating in this competition.

Holding the 25th Session of the General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the ancient city of Samarkand will acquaint the world with the cultural, tourism, investment and intellectual potential of our country and serve to further strengthen international ties with the world community in the field of trade, economy, tourism and culture.