VIENNA, March 25. /Dunyo IA/.  A promotional banner showcasing the tourism potential of Uzbekistan was displayed on one of the central streets of Vienna, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The initiative generated considerable interest among Austrians, particularly residents of Vienna. It was emphasized that for Austrian citizens - who undertake more than 5 million trips abroad annually - such information campaigns promoting Uzbekistan should be conducted on a regular basis.

Travelers and professionals residing in Vienna shared their assessments and recommendations with Uzbek diplomats regarding further promotion efforts.

Traveler Johann Stiegnitz:

- I live in Vienna. I was engaged in entrepreneurial activity for more than 30 years and am now retired. I have a deep passion for travel and have visited many countries around the world.

I was pleased to see a promotional banner about Uzbekistan. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit your country, and I must say that it is one of the most fascinating destinations I have experienced. It possesses an ancient culture that historically connected Asia and Europe through the Great Silk Road. In my view, these ties between Asia and Europe continue to develop successfully today, with Uzbekistan serving as an important bridge.

The country’s infrastructure left a very positive impression on me. I was particularly struck by the high-speed train, which can confidently be compared to Japan’s Shinkansen. Traveling on it was an excellent experience.

Every year, a major tourism exhibition – “Ferien Messe” - is held in Vienna, attracting tens of thousands of visitors planning their next holidays. Among them are not only general tourists but also culture enthusiasts and photographers. For photographers in particular, Uzbekistan represents a truly unique destination. I highly welcome the participation of tourism companies from Uzbekistan in this exhibition.

If someone were to ask me what should be done to increase the tourist flow to Uzbekistan, I would suggest organizing direct flights from Vienna to Tashkent or Samarkand.

Direct air communication would create significant convenience for Austrian tourists. Furthermore, Vienna serves as a true transport hub for all of Eastern Europe. Many travellers from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and other countries come specifically to Vienna to catch their flights. Therefore, the availability of a direct flight from Vienna would be an excellent opportunity for all travelers.

Clemens Walzl, Head of the Austrian travel company “Lass uns reisen”:

- Uzbekistan is a particularly attractive destination for us. This is primarily due to the country's multifaceted culture, rich traditions and a history that stretches deep into the past. We are seeing a great deal of interest from our clients in this regard.

We are pleased that a solid foundation for cooperation has been established with the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Vienna. After all, we represent the country not only at tourism fairs; throughout the year, we collaborate with the embassy to hold various events to promote it, including treating guests to national dishes like palov.

There is enormous potential among Austrians interested in travel. They want to visit countries like Uzbekistan. In my opinion, there is still not enough information available. That is why advertising banners like these are of such great importance.