Diplomats of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Seoul held a meeting with Kang Yu Yeong, Director of the Asia and Middle East Cooperation Department of the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).
During the talks, the Uzbek side provided detailed information about the measures taken by Uzbekistan's Committee for Tourism under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change in this field. Particular emphasis was placed on the established conditions for welcoming tourists, and the development of tourism infrastructure and logistics.
The meeting highlighted the need for further expansion of cooperation in tourism and the effective utilization of existing opportunities. It was noted that under the South Korea Official Development Assistance (ODA) program, practical work is being carried out in collaboration with historians and experts from both countries to preserve historic monuments in the Samarkand region, especially the Afrosiyob National Museum, with the intention of transforming it into a tourism hub.
To open up new markets and diversify South Korean guests, this year the KTO representative will partner with local tour operators and advertising agencies in 10 countries, including Sweden, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Uzbekistan. Moreover, in May, under the 'Korea invites you' initiative, tourists from 30 foreign countries, including Uzbekistan, are planned to be invited to visit South Korea.
The outcomes of the meeting included an agreement to establish collaboration, organize short-term training courses for Uzbek specialists to exchange expertise through grants, extensively promote the tourist potential of Uzbekistan among South Korean tourists, and hold joint conferences with the participation of tour operators and industry experts.
It should be noted that the Korea Tourism Organization was established in 1962 and operates as a non-governmental, non-profit entity focusing on attracting foreign tourists to the Republic of Korea.
