OREANDA-NEWS. October 26, 2009. The 15th International Tashkent Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” opened in the capital of Uzbekistan. The forum has been organized by the Uzbektourism national company, reported the Official website gov.uz.

Opening the fair, chairman of Uzbektourism Z.Khakimov said that tourism in Uzbekistan was developing like all other sectors. The country, situated in the center of the Great Silk Road, attracts more and more foreign tourists with its historical monuments, unique culture and traditions, and wonderful nature.

Tourism helps raise the living level of the population, create additional workplaces and strengthen international ties. The wide-scale reforms in the tourism sector held on the initiative of the President Islam Karimov are giving their notable results.

The number of modern hotels is increasing, the quality of service is improving, new tourist routes are being developed and transport communications are being renewed. All of this contributes to the development of the tourism sector.

The main goal of the Tashkent Tourism Fair is to promote the huge tourist potential of Uzbekistan and expand the relations between the local and foreign tourism and travel companies. Held since 1995, the fair is one of the largest tourist forums in Central Asia.

The number of the fair participants has been increasing from year to year. If in 2008 more than 100 companies from 23 countries took part in the forum, this year their number is more than 200.
The fair participants can get acquainted with the services related to environmental and sports tourism, the work of the hotels, insurance and banking services, the activity of the national and regional tourist organizations and travel agencies.

Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan R.Kasymov and the hokim of the city of Tashkent A.Tukhtayev participated in the opening of the Tourism Fair.