Monday, May 16, 2011


India and Uzbekistan Sign Action plan on Tourism Cooperation


An Action plan on Tourism cooperation between India and Uzbekistan was signed in New Delhi today in the presence of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Mr. Rustom Azimov and Union Tourism Minister Sh. Subodh Kant Sahai. The action plan was signed by Dr. Lalit K. Panwar, CMD, Indian Tourism Development Cooperation and Mr. Rustam Mirzaev, Chairman of the Uzbektourism

Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Sh. Subodh Kant said that India and Uzbekistan have age old ties and even in the past people used to visit each other country. The Minister said there is huge potential for developing cooperation in the tourism sector. He also stressed the need for cooperation in developing tourism infrastructure in both the countries. Shri Sahai said the institutes of hotel management and food craft institute under the Ministry of Tourism can be utilized by Uzbekistan for human resource development of their tourism requirements. He said road shows and visit by the delegation of Indian tour operators to Uzbekistan will be explored. Sh. Sahai also gave the assurance that his Ministry will explore the possibility of opening a tourism office in Uzbekistan.

Mr. Rustom Azimov First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan said that his country looks forward for more cooperation with India in tourism sector. He said India is a very popular country amongst Uzbeks and they look towards India as a growing global power. Mr. Azimov said tourist locations such as Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara are some of the well known destinations in his country which can be of attraction and interest to Indian tourists. He also sought more flight connections between India and his country. Mr. Azimov also invited Sh. Sahai to visit Uzbekistan.

The action plan envisages Exchange of tourists/media who would highlight the tourism potential of each other’s country, setting up of joint ventures in an effort to promote the business of tourism and travel and establishing of the Representative offices in each other’s country for easy and convenient accessibility of information and updates. It also includes construction and/or utilization of each other tourist facilities, creation of tourism infrastructure to promote tourist friendly destinations, education and re-training of personnel, production of goods, souvenirs, equipment and stock for promotion of tourism wherever the viability exists and organization of advertising and other promotional activity.

Both the sides will also consider exchange visits of Tour operators and travel media to promote tourism between the two countries.

An agreement on cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan was signed on 29.7.1993 in New Delhi. In 2005, Uzbek tourism signed a Protocol of Intention for Cooperation in Tourism with ITDC. Indiatourism, Frankfurt has been participating in the Tashkent Fair for promotion for India in Uzbekistan.

2562, 2756 and 3642 tourists arrived in India from Uzbekistan during the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.

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