GENEVA, November 7. /Dunyo IA/.   United Nations official news portal, “UN News”, has published an article on the development of Samarkand, preservation of its historical and cultural heritage, expansion of its tourism potential and initiatives in sustainable urban development, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

In the article, published ahead of World Cities Day, Samarkand is presented as one of the oldest cultural and trade centres along the Great Silk Road, combining the preservation of its historical heritage with modern development. Particular attention is given to Uzbekistan’s cooperation with UN agencies in the fields of tourism, heritage preservation and sustainable urban development.

Article highlights the activities of the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, which has been cooperating with UN Tourism since 2023 and became its first partner university. University is planning to establish the first sustainable tourism observatory in Central Asia as part of the International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories (INSTO). In cooperation with international experts, research is being conducted to improve monument restoration methods, including the use of composite materials and laser scanning to create three-dimensional models of sites.

According to the figures cited in the article, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan increased from 1.2 million in 2016 to nearly 12 million in 2025. Samarkand welcomed around 7 million visitors in 2025 and more than 10 million in the first nine months of 2026, with the total expected to reach around 14 million by the end of the year. The city’s international air connections cover more than 40 destinations. The article also refers to railway projects that will connect Uzbekistan with China, Afghanistan and countries in South Asia.

Article notes that more than 1,100 multi-apartment residential buildings have been constructed in Samarkand Region over the past eight years. The country’s first Samarkand Housing Profile is being developed in cooperation with UN-Habitat. Katja Schaefer, a representative of UN-Habitat, emphasised the importance of preserving traditional mahallas, modernizing infrastructure and involving residents in decision-making. The city’s master plan through 2040 envisages expanding housing construction while preserving its historic character.

Article also reports that in August 2026, Samarkand and Tashkent joined the Green Cities Network of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, highlighted Samarkand’s hospitality, cultural richness and dynamic development.