SAMARKAND, March 23. /Dunyo IA/.   Samarkand once again confirms its status as one of the key spiritual and tourist centers of Central Asia, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The press tour, organized by the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, began at the Imam Bukhari Memorial Complex - one of the country's largest spiritual, educational, and pilgrimage centers, which was visited by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on March 19.

The complex, dedicated to the great Islamic scholar Imam al-Bukhari, holds a special place not only in the history of Uzbekistan but throughout the Muslim world. He is the author of one of the most authoritative collections of hadiths – “Sahih al-Bukhari”, recognized as the second most important source in Islam after the Quran.

At the initiative of the head of state, the complex was fully reconstructed and significantly expanded to match the scholar's high spiritual status and accommodate the growing flow of pilgrims, as well as to support the development of pilgrimage tourism in the country.

Today, the complex covers approximately 45 hectares. It features a majestic mosque for 10,000 people, administrative buildings, a national-style iwan with 154 columns and landscaped walking areas.

Special attention has been paid to the infrastructure, with a modern tourism cluster created on an adjacent 15-hectare area, including hotels and family guesthouses.

While the complex previously could accommodate up to 12,000 visitors per day, its capacity has increased more than fivefold following the modernization to 65,000 people daily. This significantly strengthens Samarkand's potential as a center for pilgrimage tourism.

For the convenience of guests, there is a modern tourist center, service facilities, a spacious parking lot and fully updated engineering communications.

The press tour for media representatives will continue until March 24.