Bukhara is the capital of Islamic culture.
In 2007 ISESCO (the structure of IOC) announced Tashkent as the capital of Islamic culture.
Every year this organization announces three cities to be the Islamic cultural centers. One of the cities must be from Arabic countries, another one from Asia and the third one from Africa.
On IX conference of the ministers of culture of OIC three cities: Bukhara, Cairo (Egypt) and Bamako (Mali) were chosen as Islamic cultural centers of 2020.
Actually Bukhara has been Islamic cultural center for centuries. It was named as “The dome of Islam”. There is great meaning in the selection of Bukhara as the Islamic cultural center of 2020. It is worth mentioning that thousands of scholars who have contributed to the world civilization were born, lived and studied in this city.
Azamjon Abdurakhimov
The teacher of Tashkent Islamic Universities
“Study of Islamic civilization ISESCO” department
Uzbekistan showcases pilgrimage tourism potential at international exhibition in Istanbul
Uzbekistan’s national pavilion at the international “Umra Plus and Pilgrimage Tourism” exhibition in Istanbul highlighted the country's pilgrimage tourism potential, rich historical and cultural heritage, and growing opportunities in the tourism sector, reports Dunyo IA.
The exhibition was held at the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center, bringing together more than 400 international participants and around 1,500 representatives of Türkiye's tourism industry, including hotel chains, airlines, catering and ground service providers, as well as tour operators.
The Uzbekistan national pavilion, organized at the initiative of the Association of Umrah Tourism Organizations, showcased the country's key pilgrimage destinations, sacred sites, rich historical legacy, and modern tourism infrastructure.
Visitors received comprehensive information on the tourism potential of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Termez, Kokand, and Tashkent, as well as UNESCO World Heritage sites, renowned Islamic shrines, and the facilities and services created to ensure a comfortable experience for pilgrims.
The exhibition also featured presentations highlighting Uzbekistan's national traditions, handicrafts, cuisine, culture of hospitality, and ongoing reforms in the tourism sector.
In addition, a series of bilateral B2B meetings was held with tour operators, airlines, hotel industry representatives, and pilgrimage tourism stakeholders from Türkiye, the Middle East, and other countries. The discussions focused on increasing the flow of pilgrims to Uzbekistan, developing joint travel packages, and expanding bilateral cooperation.
The event was attended by representatives of the General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah under the Presidency of Religious Affairs of Türkiye (Diyanet), leaders of industry associations, and international tourism professionals.
The exhibition concluded with an award ceremony. It was noted that Uzbekistan's participation marked another important step toward strengthening the country's position as one of Central Asia's leading pilgrimage tourism destinations.
