Yesterday on 21st November the meeting dedicated to “Ziyarat Tourism” (Tourism on Visiting Islamic Shrines) was held in Muslim Board of Uzbekistan with the participation of representatives from the Committee on Religious Affairs, the Center for Islamic Civilization, Tashkent Islamic University and leading touristic firms.
The event was opened by O.Yusupov’s speech who mentioned President Sh.Mirziyoyev’s presentation during his visit to Samarkand region on November 9-10 regarding the tasks on widening the scope of Ziyarat Tourism. He, Mr. O.Yusupov, noted that in order to attract tourists to Bukhara and Samarkand from Turkey, Malaysia, Indonesia and other Islamic countries, a number of working groups were organized which work on particular directions.
During the meeting Mr. Akmal Qosimov, a specialist from “Azia tour” firm suggested to pay attention to “Silsilai Alia” (Shrines of 12 Saints), to introduce special packages such as “Umra Plus” to Malaysian and Indonesian tourists.
The participants proposed to sign memorandum among participating parties in the process: The Committee on Religious Affairs, Muslim Board of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Islamic University, The Center for Islamic Civilization, Charity on Shrine Protection and “Uzbektourism”.
Egyptian publication “Al-Ahram Weekly” has published an article titled “Uzbekistan’s cultural renaissance: How the Silk Road Civilization is reclaiming its voice on the global stage”, highlights the country's cultural revival, the development of the creative economy and the expansion of international cultural cooperation, reports Dunyo IA.
Publication notes that for centuries, Uzbekistan sat at the very heart of the Great Silk Road, connecting the civilizations, religions and cultures of Asia, the Middle East and Europe and today, it is once again capturing the attention of the global community.
According to Gayane Umerova, Head of the Department of Creative Economy and Tourism of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, under the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, culture, tourism and the creative economy are envisioned as fundamental pillars of the nation’s future, alongside infrastructure and industry. This approach, as noted, defines the state mandate to open Uzbekistan to the world and to welcome the world back to Uzbekistan.
Publication highlights that the nation's strategy extends beyond restoring historical sites to establishing new cultural platforms, including the Bukhara Biennial, the Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent, the future Jadid Heritage Museum and international exhibition participation. This approach signifies a multifaceted cultural development policy.
Publication separately underscores the development of the creative economy and its nexus with cultural diplomacy and the nation’s investment attractiveness. It notes that every major cultural initiative in Uzbekistan is originally designed with a strategic focus on tourism development and investment attraction, including the “Samarkand Express” project, implemented in partnership with the Italian company “Arsenale Group”.
Publication also highlights the international acclaim received by Uzbekistan’s cultural projects, including the nation’s “Garden of Knowledge” pavilion at “Expo 2025 Osaka”, which was honored with the prestigious “Red Dot: Best of the Best” award.
Particular emphasis is placed on the preservation of Uzbekistan’s Islamic heritage, the advancement of museum infrastructure and the implementation of projects aimed at integrating historical legacy into the contemporary cultural context, including the Bukhara master development plan designed by the “Wilmotte & Associés” architectural bureau.
A dedicated section of the article focuses on Uzbekistan’s cultural cooperation with Egypt and the Arab world. It notes that the sides are discussing prospects for interaction in the fields of museum management, tourism, and cultural heritage preservation, alongside the development of institutional partnerships.
According to the publication, a highly symbolic milestone was the election of Professor Khaled El-Anany as Director-General of UNESCO during the 43rd session of the organization’s General Conference, which took place in Samarkand.
In conclusion, it underscores that Uzbekistan is envisioned as a nation that remains profoundly loyal to its traditions while simultaneously advancing modern cultural and creative industries, thereby strengthening international cultural cooperation.