Uzbekistan's historic Samarkand city named 2023 World Tourism Capital

By Bahtiyar Abdulkerimov

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AA) – Uzbekistan’s historic city of Samarkand has been chosen as the 2023 World Tourism Capital.

The decision was taken at the 24th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Spain’s capital Madrid, Uzbekistan’s Tourism and Sports Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Samarkand will host the 25th General Assembly of the UNWTO, which will be a “historic event” as it marks the first time in history that the gathering will be held in Uzbekistan, read the statement.

The summit in Madrid was attended by a delegation led by Uzbekistan’s Tourism and Sports Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov, who is also the country’s deputy prime minister.

The opportunity to host a UN organization meeting for the first time is the result of the Uzbek government’s policies and efforts to develop tourism in the country, the statement added.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev from Ankara