During the International Climate Conference COP28 in Dubai, the forum "Tourism Potential of Uzbekistan: Stability, Green Agenda, and Cooperation with the Middle East" took place.

The event was organized to bring together experts, representatives from the tourism sector, government officials, and the scientific community to discuss innovative approaches and the development of tourism in Uzbekistan, with a focus on sustainable development, the "green" agenda, and strengthening cooperation with the Middle East region.

During the forum, Aziz Abdukhakimov, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, highlighted a series of measures aimed at further developing Uzbekistan's tourism potential through the "UZstainable Tourism" program.

The sustainable tourism development program in Uzbekistan, special attention to reducing carbon impact. As part of the Strategy for the Transition to a Green Economy for 2022-2030, we invested in solar and wind power plants with a total production capacity of more than 7 thousand megawatts,” the minister said. “Over the past five years, we have increased waste processing capacity by 20%. By 2030, we strive to increase the level of collection and  disposal of solid waste to 100 percent,” A. Abdukhakimov added.

The minister emphasized the significance of the Middle East countries' experience in achieving sustainable and "green" tourism. He underscored that Uzbekistan highly values the friendship and partnership with the Middle East, as there are shared historical and cultural ties, values, and heritage.

"Since 2000, Uzbekistan has been a favorite destination for Silk Road tourists, and we take pride in our hospitality," shared Aziz Abdurakhimov. "Furthermore, our country is home to over 8,000 cultural heritage sites, which are protected in close collaboration with UNESCO. This partnership will further develop in 2025 when the UNESCO General Assembly will be held in Samarkand. This event will be the first to take place outside of Paris in 40 years," the minister added.

During the forum, important issues were discussed, such as analyzing global trends in sustainable tourism and reducing the negative impact of tourism on the environment. Attention was also given to innovative methods of enhancing ecological sustainability in the tourism industry and initiatives aimed at developing sustainable tourism in Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, the forum emphasized the importance of tourism in strengthening cultural ties between Uzbekistan and the Middle East countries. It was noted that the role of infrastructure and investments in mutual cooperation, marketing strategies to attract tourists from the region, and innovative approaches in creating tourist destinations are necessary.

As a result of the forum, an agreement was reached to create new tourist destinations and further strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector with the Middle East countries.