BERLIN, December 5. /Dunyo IA/. The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Germany, in partnership with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), hosted the 16th Plenary Session on “Tourism for Sustainable Development: Uzbekistan in the Spotlight of the Cooperation Platform”, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The meeting provided a comprehensive discussion on further enhancing Uzbekistan’s tourism potential, promoting sustainable tourism, and expanding mutually beneficial partnerships with Germany and other international partners in this sector.

Participants discussed opportunities for developing bilateral and multilateral projects, attracting investment, implementing modern tourism infrastructure, and adopting “green” solutions.

Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Dilshod Akhatov, emphasized in his remarks that the development of sustainable tourism is one of the priority directions of the country’s state policy.

Ambassador Akhatov outlined the key decrees and resolutions issued by the Head of State over recent years, emphasizing initiatives aimed at modernizing tourism infrastructure, diversifying the national tourism portfolio, attracting a greater influx of international visitors, and enhancing service quality in accordance with international standards, reflecting Uzbekistan’s strategic commitment to sustainable and competitive tourism development.”

In addition, special emphasis was placed on preserving ecological and cultural heritage, enhancing the engagement of local communities and small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as accelerating workforce development and digitalization in the sector.

It was also noted that there is a need to implement climate‑resilient tourism infrastructure, to increase joint projects and investments with Germany, to adopt memoranda of cooperation, and to expand exchange of experience for these purposes.

The plenary session also saw the participation of experts from the German Tourism Association, as well as representatives from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). During the discussions, industry specialists highly commended the ongoing efforts to further strengthen Uzbekistan’s position internationally as a sustainable tourism destination, promoting its attributes and standards in line with global best practices.

Under joint tourism projects with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and within initiatives implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) young hospitality professionals from Uzbekistan are receiving training in intercultural communication to enhance their skills in engaging with representatives from DACH countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). The program includes internships in German hotels, with prospects for subsequent employment.

During the event, participants exchanged views on concrete proposals for the development of sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan, the advancement of tourism education, and the enhancement of human resource capacity. They also discussed the implementation of joint projects, training initiatives, and expert programs.

At the conclusion of the event, participants outlined a number of joint initiatives and promising avenues for future collaboration.