Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, met with Vladislav Skvortsov, Vice President and Co-founder of Gault&Millau Group, on August 27, 2026. The goal of the negotiations was to discuss cooperation in the field of gastronomic tourism and the development of the hotel industry. The inclusion of national Uzbek cuisine in the international professional community was discussed.
The main proposal is to conduct independent evaluations of restaurants and hotels in Uzbekistan by Gault&Millau experts. According to the proposed concept, inspectors of the international guide will carry out anonymous checks, and the resulting findings and recommendations will be published in national and global media platforms.
Gault&Millau, founded in France in 1969 by journalists Henri Go and Christian Millau, publishes 'Guide Jaune' ('Yellow Guide') and is one of the world's leading restaurant rating systems, alongside Michelin. The brand operates in 21 countries, covering about 16,000 establishments through a network of approximately 400 inspectors, reaching an audience of 20 million subscribers.
During the meeting, the idea of creating a specialized national gastronomic guide for Uzbekistan was also discussed. The planned 200–250 page edition will be printed in Uzbek and English, with an initial print run of 2,500 copies. Furthermore, the parties considered the possibility of launching a special digital section for Uzbekistan on the global Gault&Millau platform to showcase local dining establishments, accommodation, and regional culinary products.
Both sides expressed long-term commitment to this initiative, agreeing that independent international ratings will strengthen Uzbekistan's position as a global gastronomic attraction and attract foreign tourists, industry specialists, and international media.