OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan supports international conference on ecotourism
TASHKENT, 5 October 2016 – An OSCE-supported three-day international conference for 150 participants from the government, business community, civil society, as well as international organizations on development of ecotourism in Uzbekistan started today in Tashkent.
The event, co-organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan and the State Committee for Nature Protection and Uzbektourism National Company, also brought together representatives from a number of countries, including China, Germany, the Russian Federation and the United States, as well as senior representatives from the European Union (EU), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The participants discussed challenges and opportunities developing ecotourism in Uzbekistan, including the infrastructure, and exchanged views on necessary regulatory and institutional reforms.
“The existence of places of natural beauty is not the only factor that usually attracts tourists,” said John MacGregor, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan. “Quality of institutional development, business environment in the sector, supporting infrastructure, human resources and state regulations are other factors that could increase the touristic attractiveness of the country.”
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Adkham Ikramov, emphasized the great potential of the country for the development of ecotourism and expressed the government’s readiness to develop this sector in the coming years.
The OSCE Project Co-ordinator supports Uzbekistan in the area of green economy policies, including the promotion of ecotourism as a means for sustainable income for local communities. Currently, there are eight natural parks in the country which have significant potential for ecotourism.