PARIS, March 5. /Dunyo IA/. The Embassy of Uzbekistan hosted a presentation showcasing the country’s tourism potential, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event was organized in collaboration with tourism companies Explorator, Voyages Rive Gauche, and Karavan Travel from Samarkand. It brought together members of the French public, media representatives, and tourists planning trips to Uzbekistan.

During the presentation, participants learned about Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage, modern projects in the development of hotel and tourism infrastructure, as well as ecotourism opportunities. Special attention was given to the legendary cities included on the UNESCO World Heritage List – Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva – along with historical monuments and unique museums, including the Igor Savitsky State Museum of Arts of Karakalpakstan.

Organizers emphasized that Uzbekistan, located at the crossroads of civilizations and the Great Silk Road, combines centuries-old cultural traditions with aspirations for modern development. Living traditions, handicrafts, genuine hospitality, diverse natural landscapes from mountains to deserts, ecotourism, as well as authentic cuisine and ancient winemaking traditions, make the country highly attractive for tourists. In 2025, the number of French tourists visiting Uzbekistan reached nearly 30,000 for the first time.

As part of the event, the French publisher Didier Labouche presented his book “Uzbekistan: In the Heart of the Silk Road”, providing attendees with additional insights into the country’s culture and history.

Didier Labouche, publisher:

- Presenting the tourism potential of your country to the wider public and future travellers allowed me to introduce my new, fourth book on Uzbekistan. It is based on a journey we undertook last year with writer Sergio Cozzi and photographer Hervé Inisan.

This book became my way to express my love for Uzbekistan through literature and continue the mission of familiarizing the French public with your beautiful country.

I always fondly remember my trips to Uzbekistan and would like to send my warmest greetings to all my friends there – in Samarkand, Tashkent, Mayintepe, and other cities and villages. I hope my new book resonates with French readers.

Herve Tribo-Lespier, President of Explorator:

- Our company has existed since 1971 and has long worked with Uzbekistan. I am especially pleased that this evening, dedicated to introducing Uzbekistan, is held at your Embassy, which carries great symbolic significance.

We aim to build truly vivid, almost tangible connections with the local population, as it is not only about Uzbekistan’s outstanding cultural heritage and its great civilization. The human dimension is equally important – the opportunity to meet people, communicate, and exchange experiences. In this sense, it is hard to imagine a more appropriate venue than the Embassy, which serves as a bridge between cultures, connecting Uzbekistan and France and fostering such exchanges.

I sincerely hope that such initiatives are just the beginning, and our company is ready to actively support and develop them further.