Today, on July 9, 2019, the First Annual Tourism exhibition of the CIS countries started in Samarkand. The tourism fair is held at the initiative of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for tourism development in the framework of the regular meeting of the Tourism Council of the CIS states- members, held this year in Samarkand.  

At the opening of the event takes part the Khokim of Samarkand region Erkinjon Turdimov, Acting chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for tourism development Abdulaziz Akkulov and permanent representative of the CIS Executive Committee Tatyana Kovaleva.

Khokim of Samarkand region welcomed the guests and participants of the international fair noted that "Currently, bilateral relations between Uzbekistan and the CIS countries are developing dynamically, as evidenced by the organization of today's event" and expressed the hope that "this event will further strengthen not only the relations between our countries, but also the promotion of tourism potential at the international level."

The Acting Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on tourism development stressed that in Uzbekistan there are 7,4 thousand objects of cultural heritage, 4 cities are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.  "In recent years, the decisions of the Head of State and the Government of the Republic have taken large-scale measures to further develop the tourism infrastructure, diversify the tourism product and attract tourists to Uzbekistan. For example, in may this year, the State Committee for tourism development conducted a comprehensive analysis of the tourism sector of the Samarkand region, including a sociological survey of tourists who visited Samarkand. 

According to the analysis, 70 % of CIS tourists prefer to stay in Samarkand from 2 to 4 days, the majority of tourists from CIS countries make their trips to Uzbekistan with their families, as well as in groups. Of course, we should not stop there. We still need to work on improving the service, training in the tourism sector." – said Abdulaziz Akulov. The rich two-day program of the event includes the opening of the international tourism fair and meetings of the tourism Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, visits to national stands, from representatives of various travel companies, presentation of new combined routes and guides, presentations from the "Silk Road” International University of tourism ".

The program also plans to hold an International scientific and practical seminar "Tourism in the CIS countries and regional cooperation: new challenges and opportunities", which will be attended by representatives of the scientific community, where regional cooperation in tourism will be discussed, the problems of development of the sphere and ways of its solvation. The events are attended by representatives of ministries and departments of Uzbekistan, foreign partners and guests from Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as representatives of scientific and business circles of foreign and domestic media.