The relevant decision was made at the 11th session of the Council of Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Baku.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, OIC members recognized the reforms carried out in the field of tourism - visa facilitation, preservation of cultural heritage and improvement of historical cities as key factors for victory.
“Within the framework of the year of the tourism capital of the Islamic world in Khiva, a meeting of tourism ministers and heads of tourism administrations of 57 OIC member countries, scientific conferences, workshops, photo exhibitions, art expositions will be organized and held at a high level, revealing the potential of pilgrimage tourism. On the basis of the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage, founded at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2018, a number of events will be held to help discover and expand opportunities in the field of science and education with the participation of scientists and researchers from the OIC member countries,” the head of the Uzbek delegation, Minister of Tourism and Cultural Heritage Aziz Abdukhakimov, said.
5 cities claimed the title of the tourist capital of the Islamic world:
· Abu Dhabi (UAE);
· Sanliurfa (Turkey);
· Lagos (Nigeria);
· Dushanbe (Tajikistan);
· Khiva (Uzbekistan).
In the last year, between these cities there was a tense struggle for victory in the nomination. However, as a result of Uzbekistan’s efforts in this direction, it was decided to award Khiva the status of “Tourism Capital of the Islamic World”.
