DÜSSELDORF, December 22. /Dunyo IA/. A presentation evening dedicated to Uzbekistan’s tourism potential was held in the capital of Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia state, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The event, organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Germany with the support of the East-West Economic Club (DRW Wirtschaftsclub Ost-West e.V.), was attended by tourism specialists, representatives of German business circles, public figures and journalists.

Participants were presented with information on Uzbekistan’s rich tourism potential, the fundamental reforms implemented in recent years, and the effective cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany in the tourism sector.

It was highlighted that Uzbekistan is steadily strengthening its position on the global tourism map. Over the first ten months of this year, the country welcomed more than 10 million foreign tourists. Among European nations, Germany ranks among the leading countries in terms of the number of visitors to Uzbekistan.

In his welcome address, Rainer Biesgen, Chairman of the Board of the DRW Wirtschaftsclub Ost‑West e.V., underscored that since 2013 the organisation has served as a bridge between business leaders from Western and Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

“For us, it is very important to communicate in a friendly atmosphere. We are pleased that our club has organized this evening to showcase Uzbekistan’s tourism. The country is becoming increasingly attractive as an economic partner. The Republic is successfully reforming its economy, developing it on market principles and elevating cooperation with foreign countries to a new level. Events like this help take bilateral relations to the next stage”, - he said.

The presentation highlighted the appeal of Uzbekistan’s historic cities - Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent - all listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, as well as the high standards of modern hotel services and the visa-free entry opportunities available to tourists.

Attendees were shown video materials demonstrating the country’s tourism potential, and had the chance to experience gastronomic tourism through a traditional national-style dastarkhan spread.

It is worth noting that North Rhine-Westphalia is one of Germany’s most industrially developed federal states, with a population of over 18.1 million. The region ranks first among Germany’s federal states in terms of economic potential, hosting more than 800,000 companies and enterprises across various sectors and services.