Uzbekistan Determined to Boost Tourism Ties with Iran

On the occasion of the presence of delegation from the tourism committee of Uzbekistan and the Bukhara regional government in Tehran to attend the 17th Tehran International Tourism Exhibition, Ambassador of Uzbekistan H.E. Fariddin Nasirev held a reception for presenting potentials of tourism of his country at the Uzbekistan Embassy in Tehran with presentation of the Uzbek national dishes and music.

Addressing the participants in the reception, Mr. Nasirev pointed to the good relations between Iran and Uzbekistan which is growing especially after the meeting of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his meeting with Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raisi and tourism was one of the fields that both presidents called for boosting cooperation in this field.

The ambassador said: “Our delegation is participating in the 17th Tehran International Tourism and Related Industry Exhibition, which is being held at the Tehran International Exhibition Center. We are confident that our country will fully demonstrate its rich historical and cultural potential and tourism potential within the framework of this exhibition.” He further said: “During this exhibition, you will have the opportunity to get acquainted with the ancient history of our country, its rich culture, its unique beauty, customs and traditions of our people. As you are well aware, large-scale, irreversible reforms have been implemented in Uzbekistan in recent years. The tourism sector is given priority in the policy of “open doors” led by the head of our country, Mr. Mirziyoyev.”

Mr. Nasirev the reiterated a simplified electronic visa procedure has been introduced for citizens of another 55 countries, including Iran. He added: “Interregional cooperation between Uzbekistan and Iran is also developing more and more. As a result of high-level visits, a memorandum was signed on establishing direct relations between Samarkand and Isfahan and Bukhara and Hamadan. Favorable conditions have been created for conducting all types of tourism business in Uzbekistan. Tax and customs benefits have been provided, credit and financial assistance have been strengthened. Subsidies are allocated to build new hotels and attract international brands, increase the flow of tourists.” Nasirev concluded his speech by saying: “In order to create comfortable conditions for tourists, the number of hotel beds was increased to 140 thousand, 70 new tourist routes were opened. Twice a week (on Wednesdays and Sundays) direct flights were launched on the Tehran-Tashkent-Tehran route.” And he thanked those who contribute to the development of tourism between the two countries.

Then Chairman of the tourism committee of the republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Umid Shadiev, addressing the participants highlighted some major actions of Uzbekistan for boosting tourism in the country and cooperation with other countries in this sector as well as tourism potentials of his country for attracting tourists. He added that tourism is one of the best ways for boosting relations and economy and it is also considered as way for strengthening friendship. He then pointed to the unprecedented actions of Uzbekistan in its tourism industry for a sustainable development of the country. He noted that Uzbekistan is the historical center of the Great Silk Road with more than 8,000 cultural heritages as 209 of them are in four famous historical cities of the county which have been registered in the world. He noted that Uzbekistan is not just a historical country and it has many natural tourist attraction scenes and it is a four-season country and tourists can enjoy it.

Shadiev then touched upon the cooperation with Iran in tourism industry and said that the presence of tourism related representatives of Uzbekistan in Tehran Exhibition bespeaks of how important Iran is for Uzbekistan as the history of visits between people of the two countries date back to thousands of years ago. He reiterated that Iran and Uzbekistan have great potentials for cooperation in industry and they need bore active cooperation and in a larger scale. Then the governor of Bukhara touched upon the historic importance of his city especially for attracting tourists and pointed to the sisterhood agreement of Bukhara with Hamedan of Iran and invited Iranians to visit this city. - Iran News