WTA Chair ZHANG Xu Leads Delegation to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

From July 2 to 5, Mr. ZHANG Xu, Chair of the World Tourism Alliance (WTA), led a delegation to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, attending the "WTA·Silk Road Dialogue" in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

On July 2 in Samarkand, Mr. ZHANG Xu visited the "Silk Road" International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (SIUT) and met with Mr. Dilmurod Nasimov, the First Vice President of SIUT. Mr. ZHANG highlighted WTA’s commitment to partnering with higher education and research institutions to advance tourism development. He expressed WTA’s willingness to strengthen cooperation with SIUT in tourism research, joint studies, and knowledge-sharing to provide intellectual support for the global tourism sector. Dilmurod Nasimov introduced SIUT’s mission to cultivate the next generation of tourism professionals, scholars, and heritage guardians with global perspectives, technical expertise, and cultural literacy. He emphasized SIUT’s contributions to regional tourism education and cultural heritage preservation and affirmed plans to enhance collaboration with WTA.

On July 3, Mr. ZHANG Xu met with Umid Shadiev, Chair of Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, in Samarkand. Mr. ZHANG expressed gratitude to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan for its steadfast support of the "WTA·Silk Road Dialogue". He emphasized that Silk Road tourism, bolstered by its rich historical heritage and natural wonders, is experiencing unprecedented growth, thanks to the momentum of the Belt and Road Initiative. He cited the China-Uzbekistan Mutual Visa Exemption Agreement and increased direct flights as catalysts for deeper cultural and tourism exchanges. WTA aims to expand cooperation with Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan by building industry platforms and enhancing market interconnectivity. Mr. ZHANG invited Mr. Shadiev to the "WTA • Xianghu Dialogue" in Hangzhou this November and welcomed Uzbek tourism enterprises, associations, and destinations to join WTA. Mr. Umid Shadiev welcomed the delegation, applauding WTA for hosting the dialogue in Samarkand. He underscored the transformative impact of the visa exemption policy since June 1 and Uzbekistan’s focus on the Chinese market through the 2025 "Tourism Year of Uzbekistan in China". This comprehensive initiative features large-scale roadshows in 26 Chinese cities and the "China Friendly" program to improve visitor services. He expressed eagerness to deepen all-round cooperation with China’s tourism sector.

In Tashkent on July 4, WTA Chair Mr. ZHANG Xu met with Ms. Oksana Khakimova, Chairperson of Beyond Expectation. Mr. ZHANG introduced WTA’s initiatives and commended the company’s contributions to China-Uzbekistan tourism development. He expressed WTA’s willingness to serve as a bridge to help Uzbek tourism enterprises better access the Chinese market and facilitate tourist exchanges between China, Uzbekistan and related regions. Ms. Khakimova presented Beyond Expectation’s operations as one of Uzbekistan’s leading inbound tour operators for Chinese tourists, specializing in creating "beyond expectation" travel experiences. She emphasized the company’s role as a vital link for cultural, tourism and business exchanges between the two countries, expressing hope to leverage WTA’s platform to enhance cooperation with Chinese tourism stakeholders and accelerate growth in bilateral tourist flows.

On July 5 in Almaty, Mr. ZHANG Xu held talks with Ms. Galiya Tokseitova, Director of Almaty Tourism Bureau, and Ms. Rysty Karabayeva, President of Eurasian Tourism Association. Mr. ZHANG noted that Central Asia, as a core region of the Belt and Road initiative and historic Silk Road corridor, boasts unique natural/cultural heritage with tremendous tourism potential. He highlighted growing China-Kazakhstan tourism exchanges and praised both organizations as exemplary WTA members for advancing regional/international tourism cooperation. Mr. ZHANG invited them to attend the upcoming "WTA • Xianghu Dialogue" in Hangzhou, China this November. He expressed hope that through the WTA platform, they could gain deeper insights into China’s tourism market, enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation, share resources, and achieve mutual as well as multilateral benefits. Ms. Tokseitova and Ms. Karabayeva emphasized Kazakhstan’s strong focus on the Chinese market, noting the appeal of Kazakhstan’s landscapes, Silk Road heritage and urban culture to Chinese tourists. They recognized China’s vast tourism resources and massive outbound travel market as a major opportunity, pledging to strengthen cooperation with Chinese and global tourism sectors through WTA.

During the "WTA·Silk Road Dialogue", WTA Chair Mr. ZHANG Xu held separate meetings with Mr. Adiz Boboev, Governor of Samarkand Region, and Chinese Ambassador to Uzbekistan H.E. YU Jun, where they exchanged views on regional tourism development and discussed potential opportunities to strengthen future cooperation.