Uzbek is full of historical relics, tourist attractions

A tourism attraction in Samarkand city

The Tashkent Television Tower

Uzbekistan is attracting worldwide attention with its numerous ancient historical and architectural monuments, its rich ancient culture and science, diverse nature and beauty, dynamic progress and the hospitality of its inhabitants. For centuries, Uzbekistan was at the crossroads of trade routes of the Silk Road, which was followed by merchants and discoverers, geographers, missionaries and conquerors. Nowadays Uzbekistan is an attractive tourist destination for adventurous and inquisitive people interested in culture and history, traditions and exotic countries.

The rich cultural and historical heritage of Uzbekistan includes more than 7,000 ancient archeological and architectural monuments from different eras and civilizations. The number of historical monuments and attractions the country has is the ninth most in the world. Most of them are located in the cities of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Shahrisabz, Kokand, Termez and Tashkent. Four cities and objects of cultural heritage (of 209 objects) are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: Ichan Kala in Khiva, the Historic Center of Bukhara, the Historic Center of Shahrisabz and Registan Square in Samarkand. One of the most ancient cities ― Samarkand ― entered the list of the top 50 cities in the world by the U.S. rating agency Huffington Post, which must be visited.

Since 2000, the Government of Uzbekistan has gradually implemented short- and medium-term programs that provide for the phased development of tourism infrastructure in regions of the country. A huge number of modern buildings, hotels, parks, gardens and new settlements have made this region more attractive. The changing shape of the country has seen structures built with modern technologies for urban development. For a worthy meeting of foreign guests is built a modern hotel chain with services meeting international standards. Among them are Radisson the BLU, Ramada, Wyndham Tashkent and others. It should be mentioned Lotte City Hotel Tashkent Palace managed by the South Korean side pleases its guests with a high level of service provided, modern interior of their comfortable rooms as well as the unique location in the heart of our capital.

The Hilton hotel chain has signed an agreement on the management of the International Hotel Tashkent. The heart of the capital will build a new hotel with the international Hyatt brand.

The total number of hotels and spa hotels in the country is more than 500 that have the ability to serve more than 50,000. Only in the last eight years were put into operation more than 300 private hotels, which also promoted the growth of domestic tourism.

Amir Temur Square in Tashkent has been an attraction for locals as well as foreign tourists.

At the moment, the country has more than 500 tour operators and travel agencies. They successfully operate 110 international tourist routes, covering many historical buildings and monuments of architecture, and the steppes, deserts, mountains, rivers and nature reserves.

The number of foreign tourists who visited Uzbekistan in 2013 exceeded 2 million people from more than 70 countries. In the past two years, this figure has increased by 43 percent. Most of them come from countries such as France, Spain, Germany and Japan. However, despite the proximity of the traditions and customs, and the close and productive economic, cultural and humanitarian ties between the two countries, the number of tourists arriving from Korea remains relatively small.

Guests who come to see the historical city monuments respond positively about transport infrastructure in the country, especially the airports. Thus, the International Civil Aviation Organization recognized the international airport of Tashkent as a first-category airport, which is now receiving aircraft from around the world. The planes of NAC Uzbekistan Airways make flights to more than 50 cities around the world.

It should be mentioned that, along with the national airline Uzbekistan Airways regular flights between the two capitals ― Seoul and Tashkent ― are also operated by Asiana and Korean Air.

At the moment, Uzbekistan has 11 airports with international status.

Foreign and local tourists and businesspeople appreciate routes for the high-speed train Afrosiyob between Tashkent and Samarkand. They noticeably reduce the distance between the centers of tourism and enhance the level of service provided. In 2016 projects will be completed for the construction of high-speed rail lines to the cities of Bukhara and Karshi.

Uzbekistan is famous for handmade brass.

NC Uzbektourism ― the National Tourism Administration ―_ is actively working to promote in the world market our own national tourism products. In 2013, the national company launched the web portal www.welcomeuzbekistan.uz, which contains information about historical monuments, tourist routes, guides, interpreters, local law, history, geography, climate, folk arts, culture, traditions, flora and fauna, museums, restaurants and other useful information for tourist companies and individuals planning a trip to our country. At the present time the portal is available in English, Russian and German, and we are preparing a portal for Korean, French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic languages.

Held annually since 1995, the Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF) "Tourism on the Silk Road" was rated by leading experts as a prestigious event in the world of tourism, and it entered the World Tourism Organization in the annual tourist calendar of major events. TITF is rightly recognized as a working platform for the promotion of tourist products and establishing business contacts.

It should be noted that local tourism organizations are traditional participants in major international exhibitions, especially the unified national stand "Uzbekistan" presented at exhibitions in Madrid, Riga, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and London. Since the beginning of 2015, representatives of the tourist industry have taken part in dozens of international exhibitions and events, such as FITUR-2015 (Spain), EMITT 2015 (Turkey) and ITB 2015 (Germany). An ancient and ever young land that has long been admired the world over for its highly developed culture and science, historical monuments, beauty and grandeur, has now become a major world tourist center.