The meeting was initiated by the Turkish side. The sides considered several important issues of cooperation in tourism sector between Uzbekistan and Turkey.

At the meeting, the Turkish side received information about rich historic and cultural heritage of Uzbekistan, reforms in tourism sector, measures adopted by the Government on cardinal improvement of tourism infrastructure.

Mr. Erpul also was informed about state programmes on tourism development in the regions of Uzbekistan.

At the meeting, the sides considered issues of training cadres, attracting technical assistance via TICA and attracting direct investments to tourism sector. Turkish side expressed interest in cooperation in this direction.

Ambassador noted that during his meeting with the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, the Uzbek leader expressed necessity to boost bilateral relations. In this connection, the envoy said that he will do his best to develop relations between two states, which have common roots, culture and history.

Namik Guner Erpul said that it is necessary to make efforts to develop and deepen relations in tourism between two nations. Turkish envoy said that about 75 million people from Turkey visited foreign states in 2013 and if direct 1% of them to Uzbekistan, it will significantly increase tourism inflow between Uzbekistan and Turkey.

Within the meeting, Turkish side offered to increase number of flights of Uzbekistan Havo Yollari between Tashkent and Istanbul to boost tourism exchanges between two states. He also proposed to open direct flights between Turkey and Samarkand and Bukhara as well.

In order to promote Uzbekistan and hold wide-scale advertisement of campaign of Uzbekistan and its tourism opportunities in Turkey, Erpul said that Turkish side is ready help to promote Uzbekistan in Turkey via broadcasting video materials about the country in Turkish language.

The sides also considered invitation of representatives of the Turkish tourism industry to familiarize with Uzbekistan within the Mega-Info-Tour. Envoy also said that the Embassy is ready to organize students, employees of hotel, tourism companies and other subjects of tourism sector of Uzbekistan to undergo internship in Turkey. Ambassador said that Turkish specialists can be attracted to trainings on the base of Educational Center of Uzbektourism to develop additional types of tourism in Uzbekistan and diversify tourism directions.

Chairperson of Uzbektourism Farrukh Rizaev expressed gratitude to Turkish Ambassador for readiness to assist to development of tourism in Uzbekistan, increase tourism inflow between two states, organization of internships and trainings, etc.