WTA · Silk Road Dialogue to Be Held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

The "WTA · Silk Road Dialogue" will take place on July 3 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Co-hosted by the World Tourism Alliance (WTA) and the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, the event is supported by Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China andMinistry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, with collaboration from Rocket DMC Uzbekistan, the Silk Road Samarkand, the China Association of Travel Services, and other partners.

Since the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, China has signed over 200 cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations, deepening exchanges and collaboration across economy, politics, culture, tourism, infrastructure, and livelihood projects. The BRI has evolved into a widely embraced global public good and a major platform for international cooperation.

Uzbekistan, a friendly neighbor along the Silk Road, has seen steadily upgraded ties with China since diplomatic relations were established. Building on strong political mutual trust, the two nations have actively expanded the scope and depth of cooperation across sectors, working together to build a community with a shared future in Central Asia. The "WTA · Silk Road Dialogue" aims to leverage its platform to further explore tourism markets along the Belt and Road, develop tourism products, and promote people-to-people exchanges and travel cooperation, injecting renewed energy and vibrancy into Silk Road tourism.

Under the theme "Envision and Create a Better Future through the Silk Road Dialogue", the event will feature keynote speeches, roundtable discussions, and the "Hangzhou Night" tourism promotion, and other themed sessions. Participants will exchange insights on current hot topics in tourism, analyze the landscape, trends, and strategic opportunities for BRI tourism collaboration, and explore ways to broaden and deepen partnerships among Belt and Road countries. A special thematic report will be released during the event, followed by on-site business matchmaking. Approximately 250 attendees are expected, including tourism officials from China, Uzbekistan, and other BRI countries/regions, representatives of international tourism organizations, WTA members, industry experts, and media delegates.

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is emerging as a key driver of growth in the global tourism market. According to outbound tourism data released by the China Tourism Academy, BRI destinations are increasingly attracting Chinese travelers. Established outbound destinations along the Belt and Road will offer visitors fresh and diverse discoveries, while new destinations will also emerge, enriching travel experiences for both Chinese and international tourists. Today, there is a shared aspiration across sectors to deepen tourism exchanges and cooperation along the Belt and Road, foster people-to-people connectivity among participating countries and regions, and advance global shared prosperity.

The World Tourism Alliance (WTA), a comprehensive, non-governmental, and non-profit international tourism organization, was initiated by China and established in September 2017. Guided by its vision of "Better Tourism, Better World, Better Life" and its mission to promoting tourism for peace, development, poverty alleviation, the WTA has actively facilitated interconnectivity and shared governance. To date, the WTA boasts 259 members from 45 countries and regions, contributing significantly to the sustainable and inclusive development of global tourism.