TOKYO, June 29. /Dunyo IA/. Spearheaded by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan, Tourism Committee and Khokimiyat of the Surkhandarya region, in robust collaboration with other strategic stakeholders, a special familiarization tour (FAM Trip) to Uzbekistan was successfully arranged for leading Japanese tour operators, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The tour garnered the participation of executives from the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), alongside prominent corporations including “World Air Service Co., Ltd.”, “Hankyu Travel International Co., Ltd.”, “All Season Travel Co., Ltd.”, “Kuoni Tumlare Japan, Inc.”, “New Japan Tourist Co., Ltd.” and “Orange Inc”.

In the course of the visit, the delegates explored the rich cultural, historical, pilgrimage, Buddhist, eco-tourism, and ethnographic industry assets of the republic along a comprehensive “Tashkent – Termez – Boysun – Samarkand – Tashkent” itinerary.

Specifically, the delegates toured the ancient Fayaztepa, Karatepa and Zurmala Buddhist shrines in the Surkhandarya region, the revered Al-Hakim at-Tirmidhi and Sultan Saodat complexes, historic Kirkkiz fortress, Sangardak waterfall, Boysun artisanal center and the scenic Tangisar gorge.

In addition, curated guided tours were arranged in Samarkand, showcasing architectural masterpieces such as Registan Square, the Imam al-Bukhari complex, the Ulugh Beg Observatory, the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, “Eternal City” complex, Amir Temur Mausoleum and Afrasiab Museum.

On the sidelines of the tour, a series of B2B networking sessions bringing together local travel agencies was convened in Termez, Samarkand, and Tashkent. In the course of these meetings, Uzbekistan’s comprehensive tourism products, innovative itineraries, transport-logistics capacities, and hospitality infrastructure were showcased, followed by deliberations on the prospects of practical tourism cooperation between the two nations.

Japanese tour operators highly commended Uzbekistan's profound historical and cultural legacy, alongside the diversity of its travel destinations, placing special emphasis on the Buddhist heritage of the Surkhandarya region and its eco-tourism assets. Furthermore, they reaffirmed their commitment to designing new travel packages across the republic and broadening partnerships to boost the influx of Japanese travelers in the future.