Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The forum of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) "Year of Tourism 2023" was held in Urumqi on 23 November.  Within the framework of the forum, Chairman of the Tourism Committee Umid Shadiev met with Minister of Sport and Tourism of Belarus S. Kovalchuk and discussed issues of cooperation in tourism development and increasing tourist exchange between the countries.

During the talks they agreed to conduct study tours for leading media and travel bloggers in the first half of 2024. Also, the Minister of Sport and Tourism of Belarus announced plans to open direct flights from Minsk to Samarkand.

In addition, there are plans to establish training and exchange of experience between the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage "Silk Road" in Samarkand and the Institute of Tourism of the Belarusian State University of Physical Culture.