The International Summit on Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism took place in Tashkent on August 26, 2026. The event gathered about one hundred representatives from tour operators, business representatives of the tourism industry, as well as officials from the public and private sectors and industry experts from more than twenty countries.
The summit was organized by the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, the International Association of Ecotourism, and the travel company TGS Travel. Uzbekistan is hosting an international summit for the first time in 2026, following previous events held in major tourist centers in Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam, and Tanzania.
The forum presented the potential of Uzbekistan's tourism, opportunities for ecotourism development, and current sector reforms to all participants. The main discussions focused on the development of sustainable tourism, rational use of natural resources, and expanding international cooperation.
Speeches at the Opening Ceremony
At the official opening ceremony, Sanjar Tajiev, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, and Murtaza Kalender, CEO of TravelShop Group of Companies and President of the Istanbul Tourism Association, delivered welcoming remarks.
International experts shared their insights during the summit. Anis Sehili, a specialist in the tourism market in the Middle East and North Africa, and Roberto Garibaldi, a professor at the University of Bergamo, presented information on modern trends in sustainable tourism, the development of new tourism products, and best global practices.
The program also included B2B business meetings, during which tour operators from various countries and Uzbekistan held bilateral negotiations to create new partnerships and implement joint tourism projects.
After the main part of the program, foreign delegates will continue to explore Uzbekistan's tourism offerings through organized excursions in the regions of Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, and will participate in additional business meetings designed to showcase the country's historical heritage, cultural assets, and regional development projects.