KUALA LUMPUR, April 22. /Dunyo IA/. The Embassy of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the Samarkand regional administration, organized the Uzbek-Malaysian Tourism Forum and a B2B meeting between tour operators of the two countries, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event took place ahead of Malaysia’s largest tourism exhibition, MATTA Fair, held in Kuala Lumpur from April 18 to 20. Attending the forum were Deputy Mayor of Kuala Lumpur Ismadi bin Sakirin, Director of the Research and Training Division at the Islamic Tourism Centre Nur Alyssa Coraline Yussin, officials from Tourism Malaysia, representatives of the BUMITRA and PAPUH tourism associations, as well as more than 120 local travel companies.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Karomiddin Gadoev, delivered a detailed presentation on the wide-ranging reforms being implemented in Uzbekistan, the systematic development of modern tourism infrastructure, and the measures taken to enhance comfort for international travelers

Rustam Kobilov, Deputy khokim of the Samarkand region, shared information on Uzbekistan’s efforts to accommodate Muslim tourists and the available tourism infrastructure tailored to their needs.

The forum showcased tourism programs highlighting historical and cultural destinations in Uzbekistan and the Samarkand region. These included travel packages such as "Cultural Tourism," "Pilgrimage Tourism", "Umrah+", "Gastro-tourism", and "Business Tourism" (MICE).

Representatives of the national airline Uzbekistan Airways presented current offerings for travelers to Uzbekistan, including direct flights between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur.

During the B2B sessions, tour operators from both countries exchanged views on increasing the flow of Malaysian tourists to Uzbekistan and expanding collaborative tourism programs.

The event also featured an exhibition of Uzbek handicrafts, applied arts, textiles, and silk products, with participation from members of the Hunarmand association.

To highlight Uzbekistan’s potential in gastronomic tourism, guests were treated to traditional national dishes, including the famous Samarkand plov.

As a result of the forum, concrete agreements were reached to launch and promote new tour packages and to boost the flow of tourists to Uzbekistan through direct cooperation between tour operators.