The delegates were greatly touched by the hospitality and comfort extended to them during the Forum

by ANSAR MAHMOOD BHATTI IN BUKHARA

BUKHARA, UZBEKISTAN, FEB 22 (DNA) – The First International Ziyarah Torusim Forum was inaugurated on Friday with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Aziz A. Abdukhakimov  hoping the event shall give a considerable boost to the tourism industry of Uzbekistan, especially the Ziyarah tourism.

Delegates from over 34 countries including Pakistan attended the Forum. Despite being the first-ever forum of its kind, the platform provided the participants with an opportunity of having detailed information about the Ziyarah tourism potential of Uzbekistan.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan who is also the head of complex of sports and tourism welcomed the guests and hoped the trip would contribute to enrichment of their knowledge about Ziyarah tourism.

He said flow of tourists to Uzbekistan has multiplied manifold adding one of the key reasons in this effect was liberalization of visa policy.

He said the new visa region introduced by the Uzbek government allows tourists from across the globe to have an easy entry in Uzbekistan.

He said his country was consistently implementing comprehensive measures to develop the tourism industry as one of the strategic sectors of the national economy, which ensures the accelerated development of the regions, increasing the income and quality of life of the population, as well as improving the investment attractiveness.

He said the objective of this Forum is to promote opportunities and potential of the country, as well s the international recognition of Uzbekistan as one of the largest centers of Ziyarah tourism in the Islamic World.

The Forum is organized by the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for tourism development, the administration of the Bukhara region, the committee for religious affairs under the government of Uzbekistan, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan together with the ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The deputy prime minister further said the government is taking significant measures to improve the attractiveness of Uzbekistan in the direction of Ziyarah tourism.

“Since 2018 work has been carried out to introduce into practice the standards of Halal in public catering and restaurants in the country”.

The Forum participants were informed about the country’s tourism potential, recent reforms in the field of doing business in the tourism industry, and opportunities created for foreign investors.

The purpose of the Forum, inter alia, is to familiarize the participants with the rich cultural and religious heritage of Bukhara and Samarkand.

The participants were taken to sites and objects of Ziyarah in the regions, including the Bahaudin Naqshbandi and Imam Al Bokhari memorial complexes.

The State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the Hunarmand Association in Uzbekistan organized an exhibition in the Youth Centre relating to areas of calligraphy, miniatures, pottery, gold embroidery, jewelry and woodcarving.

The foreign delegates evinced keen interest in the exhibition and lauded the great art work of Uzbek artists.

The guests also witnessed a theatrical performance called “7 peers of Bukhara”.=

The delegates were greatly touched by the hospitality and comfort extended to them during the Forum.=DNA

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