Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Within the framework of the annual celebration of World Day of guides and guides, the 3rd International Forum of Guides “Silk Road: Cooperation without Borders” started its work in Tashkent, which has become one of the most important international sites for excursion activities in Uzbekistan.

The key task of the International Forum is to establish a constructive dialogue and unite efforts between the guides and interested parties to create a solid basis for further cooperation and implementation of joint projects in excursion activities and popularizing the “guide” profession.

Also, this event will allow to implement the tasks set forth in the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On additional measures for the accelerated development of tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan” (No. UP-5611 of January 5, 2019).

“In order to maintain the pace of development of tourism, which we asked in 2017, and to attract more guests, it is necessary to bring to the forefront the quality of tourism products that we offer on the international tourist market. And the guides, tour guides who work directly with the guests (tourists) are the face of this tourist product,” Chairman of the State Committee of Development of Tourism of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Akkulov.

He also stressed that serious work is being done in Uzbekistan to improve the regulatory framework in the field of tourism, and a number of laws and amendments are being prepared that will have a significant impact on the tourism industry, including excursion activities. “The main direction in the implementation of the tasks set was in 2019 the creation of a new structure uniting the participants of the tourist market, the Association of Guides of Uzbekistan. The issue of creating the Association was more than 10 years old, and only with the joint efforts of the State Committee for Tourism, the State Unitary Enterprise “Educational and Consulting Center of Tourism” and national guides, we were able to realize our plans,” Abdulaziz Akkulov said.

The international forum is attended by 250 specialists from the tourism sector, namely, guides, tour operators, museologists, representatives of government agencies, international organizations, educational institutions and other specialists.

The international forum is held at three business venues - “International Scientific and Practical Conference“ Silk Road: Cooperation without Borders”, “Guide Laboratory: Master Classes from International and National Experts”, and “Exposition Part”.

For the first time, representatives of the National Associations of Spain, France, Israel, India, Turkey, Italy, as well as representatives of the leading vocational educational institutions of the USA and others take part. At the end of the International Forum, the results of the photo contest “Uzbekistan - a country of tourism” will be summed up in three nominations “Nature. Architectural heritage. Culture and Ethnography ”, which was attended by the best photographs of the guides, as well as the lottery“ Wheel of Fortune ”will be held.

The organizers expect that the platform will allow forging a constructive dialogue between the participants of the Forum, sharing experience and discussing other relevant and significant issues on excursion activities and the functioning of the National Association of Guides. The forum also served the purpose of uniting joint efforts to increase the authority of the guide profession in the world community.

During the work of the International Forum, the Association of Guides of the Republic of Uzbekistan will sign a Memorandum of Cooperation with the National Associations of Guides of India, Spain and France, which envisages the implementation of joint projects aimed at improving the activities of guides, promoting the profession of a guide, as well as training and raising qualifications of guides.