(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 5. President of
Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat
Mirziyoyev pay special attention to the development of cultural,
humanitarian, and tourism ties, and this is one of the key factors
for Uzbek-Azerbaijani brotherhood and friendship, Ambassador
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan
Bakrom Ashrafkhanov told trend in an exclusive interview.
“Both Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are located on the popular "The
Great Silk Road" tourist route and the countries are taking active
steps towards increasing the mutual tourist flow,” the ambassador
said.
Ashrafkhanov pointed out that increasing the number of flights
and expanding flights within the countries is of great
importance.
“Recently Baku and Tashkent have brought the number of flights
to nine per week with the participation of Uzbekistan Airways,
Azerbaijan Airlines, and Fly Khiva Airlines. In addition, for the
first time in the history of the two countries, direct flights from
Baku to the following regions of Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Fergana,
and Urgench have been launched," he said.
The ambassador also expressed hope for launching direct flights
from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijani territories liberated from Armenian
occupation.
“In our opinion, the launch of direct flights from Baku to
Bukhara, as well as from Uzbekistan to Ganja and the liberated
regions of Azerbaijan, where we are witnessing the rapid
implementation of restoration works and huge tourist potential, is
promising,” the ambassador said.
Furthermore, Ashrafkhanov emphasized that Uzbekistan's
participation in the "Tourism and Travel" International Exhibition
in Baku also has a great impact on the bilateral relations between
the countries. The 19th Azerbaijan International "Tourism and
Travel" ("AITF 2023") exhibition was held at the Baku Expo Center
after a 3-year break due to the pandemic on April 4, 2023, and will
be held until April 6, 2023.
“Uzbekistan is represented as a partner country of Azerbaijan,
which demonstrates the high level of bilateral relations between
the counties. The exhibition is not only the largest event in the
tourism sector of the region but also a celebration of culture, new
experiences, opportunities, and friendship. Tourism is a
multifaceted industry that has both economic and socio-cultural
significance,” he said.
Ashrafkhanov noted that tourism is one of the developing fields
in Uzbekistan, and by the end of 2023, the country plans to attract
some 7 million foreign tourists and facilitate about 15 million of
domestic tourists, as well as to bring up the export of tourism
services to $2.5 billion.
According to the latest data from the Uzbek State Statistics
Committee, some 871,000 foreign citizens visited Uzbekistan for
tourism purposes from January through February 2023. The number of
tourists visiting Uzbekistan increased by 544,400 people, or 2.7
times, compared to the same period in 2022. In 2022, some 5.2
million foreigners visited Uzbekistan, increasing by 2.8 times,
compared to the figure for 2021.
Meanwhile, State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan
says that the number of tourists arriving from Uzbekistan to
Azerbaijan amounted to 1,900 in February 2023 – an increase of over
6 times, compared to February 2022 (279 tourists). This figure has
also increased by 35.7 percent, compared to January 2023 (1,400
tourists).
"Recently, President Mirziyoyev emphasized that 2023 should be
the year of promoting the rich cultural and tourist potential of
Uzbekistan abroad. In order to implement the presidential decree,
steps are being taken to attract tourists through marketing and
advertising, in particular, the "Business Card of Uzbekistan" is
being developed, the tourist brand is being updated, advertisements
about Uzbekistan on international TV channels and Internet sites
are increasing," said the ambassador.
"I would like to invite everyone to visit the national pavilion
of Uzbekistan, where you will be provided with detailed information
on the country ́s tourism and unique gastronomic potential, rich
cultural heritage, and national customs," he said.
