SEOUL, October 30. /Dunyo IA/. Tourism potential of Uzbekistan was showcased at the second international “Global City Tourism Summit” held in the South Korean city of Busan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

Event gathered representatives from government agencies, tourism organizations, international structures and business communities representing over 30 countries.

During a session dedicated to foreign diplomatic missions, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan Alisher Abdusalomov, elaborated on the reforms in the country’s tourism sector, infrastructure development, and measures implemented to ensure traveller safety. Special emphasis was placed on the historical and cultural heritage of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, as well as prospects for increasing the influx of South Korean tourists. Furthermore, participants were briefed on the Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF-2026), scheduled to take place in Tashkent in November.

At the “Mayors’ Roundtable”, which featured representatives from Central Asian cities, Deputy Khokim of Samarkand City Yunus Bobonazarov, presented the region's achievements and strategic plans for further tourism development.

According to him, during the first nine months of 2026, Samarkand Region welcomed 5 million foreign tourists, which is twice as many as in the same period last year. During this timeframe, more than 120 new hotels and guest houses opened in the region, infrastructure for pilgrimage tourism was enhanced and new recreation zones were established in mountainous areas.

Hwang Seong-ok, a representative of “HANATOUR SERVICE INC.”, reported that between 2022 and 2026, the company organized trips to Central Asia for over 30,000 tourists from South Korea. Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan accounted for 98% of all these trips. Cultural, medical, and educational tourism, as well as the development of new travel routes, were highlighted among the promising areas of cooperation.

Summit participants emphasized the necessity of more actively promoting Uzbekistan's tourism opportunities in the South Korean market, including through digital platforms and social networks. The importance of organizing familiarization trips for South Korean tour operators, expanding direct air connectivity and developing tourism services in the Korean language was also noted.

A tourism exhibition was organized within the framework of the summit, where Uzbekistan showcased its rich cultural heritage, traditional crafts, and a diverse range of tourism itineraries. Visiting the Uzbek stand, Kang Chul-Ho, Head of Dong-gu District, Busan, highly commended the development of tourism cooperation between the two countries and noted the significance of such events in strengthening friendly ties.

Participation of Uzbekistan in the “Global City Tourism Summit” served as an excellent opportunity to expand international contacts, promote national tourism destinations within the South Korean market, and reinforce cooperation with the cities and organizations of the region.