Uzbekistan and Indonesia Expand Cooperation in Pilgrimage Tourism

The Uzbekistan Fund for Culture and Arts Development and the Korea Arts Council (ARKO) have reached an agreement to expand interaction in the field of culture and art. The parties signed a memorandum of understanding on September 5th.

This document provides for joint projects in several areas, including exhibition and curatorial activities, research initiatives, as well as the exchange of artists and specialized professionals from both countries.

Cooperation between museums and other cultural institutions of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea will also become an area of joint work. Furthermore, the parties intend to develop professional ties and exchange experience in museum activities.

According to the agreement, participants will study various methods of supporting and developing art, as well as modern practices in museology. This format of cooperation is expected to promote increased professional exchange among representatives of the cultural sectors of the two states.

The Tourism Group of the Social Security Organization (HEGTA) and the Iranian Tour Operators Association have reached an agreement to expand cooperation in domestic and international tourism markets. The parties also plan to develop new tourism products and more actively utilize HEGTA's capabilities in accommodation and railway transport.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, when both sides agreed to establish a joint working group. This group will be responsible for identifying target markets and developing pilot tourism products.

Key areas of cooperation include creating comprehensive packages that combine train travel, accommodation, and excursions; developing the existing medical tourism chain; studying Central Asian markets; jointly participating in national and international presentations; developing short-term practical training courses, and assessing opportunities to increase hotel infrastructure according to market needs.

Akbar Gamhar, Chairman of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, noted that the tourism market offers many areas for partnership with HEGTA. These include accumulated post-war travel demand, medical and pilgrimage tourism, railway tourism, Central Asian markets, as well as leisure programs for civil servants and pensioners.

He also emphasized the importance of using HEGTA's hotel and railway networks to create new tourism offerings. Gamhar added that closer integration between various participants in the medical tourism chain, combined with the capabilities of professional tour operators, could boost inbound tourism.

Referring to the success of 37 association members who received export awards last year, he viewed this as an opportunity to expand international tourism markets. He also called for joint participation in road shows, specialized training programs, and providing incentives for accommodation.

Alireza Tabesh, CEO of HEGTA, welcomed the proposed initiatives. He stated that the Iranian Tour Operators Association possesses significant experience and knowledge of tourism markets that can be used to promote the holding's international markets. He highlighted the potential of HEGTA and its subsidiaries in accommodation, rail transport, tourism, training, and investment, stressing the need for practical and economically sound cooperation between the two entities.

During his working visit to China, Abdullaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, met with Niyaz Niyaz, head of the administrative body of Kashgar Prefecture. The parties discussed the possibility of deepening practical interaction in the field of tourism, including investment projects, the development of historical cities, tourism exchange, and the potential launch of an air route between Kashgar and Samarkand.

The main focus of the meeting was on Kashgar's experience in preserving the historical urban environment while simultaneously developing modern tourist infrastructure. Both sides noted that strengthening the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China opens up new opportunities for cooperation between their regions.

From 2021 to 2025, 134 billion yuan has been allocated to the development of tourism in Kashgar. During the restoration of the old city quarter, its historical architectural appearance is preserved, while road infrastructure, water supply and sewage systems, lighting, and security are being modernized. Gastronomic, commercial, and cultural offerings are also being developed, with daily cultural events taking place.

The parties separately reviewed the system for monitoring and managing tourist flows in Kashgar. Data from airports, railway and road transport, hotels, mobile operators, and QR code systems are used for this purpose. In 2025, the city welcomed 5.2 million tourists, and employment in the tourism sector reached about 200 thousand people.

Mayors and city leaders of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Kokand participated in studying Kashgar's experience. Direct contacts were established with the mayor of Kashgar during the visit, creating prerequisites for further experience exchange between these cities.

The participants discussed expanding investment cooperation and attracting companies and investors from Kashgar to tourism projects in Uzbekistan. Potential areas include the development of historical cities and tourist zones, as well as the construction of modern hotels and entertainment complexes.

The idea of exchanging experiences among specialists working in the fields of historical zone management, tourism services, and tourist flow regulation was proposed. Special attention was paid to strengthening ties between Kashgar and Uzbek cities, specifically proposing the possibility of opening a Kashgar-Samarkand air route.

Following the negotiations, the parties agreed to continue working on increasing tourism exchange, implementing investment projects, exchanging experiences, and establishing direct links between the regions.

As part of his visit, Akkulov visited historical and tourist sites in Kashgar. In the ancient city of Kashgar, the Uzbek delegation observed the opening ceremony and studied methods for managing, operating, and developing the site as a tourist destination.

At the Gaotai historical residential complex, the delegation familiarized itself with the experience of reconstruction, preservation, and protection of historical cities and places popular among tourists in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The delegation also visited Xianfei Park, where it studied approaches to combining culture and tourism by using cultural heritage sites for tourism purposes and creating an attractive environment for visitors.

The approaches studied in Kashgar are planned to be taken into account when developing the tourism potential of Uzbekistan's historical cities, enhancing their attractiveness, and improving tourism infrastructure.