Uzbekistan Promotes National Cuisine to Global Tourism Market
Uzbekistan is developing gastronomy tourism through the Gastro Marketplace and Tourist Friendly Restaurants projects to promote its national cuisine internationally.
Uzbekistan's Tourism Committee is launching two new initiatives, "Gastro Marketplace" and "Tourist Friendly Restaurants," to elevate the nation's cuisine on the global stage and cultivate gastronomy tourism.
The committee reports that approximately 80 individuals have been chosen to lead culinary masterclasses, and around 40 restaurants are set to join the program.
Gastronomy tourism, the committee emphasized, is among the most rapidly expanding sectors within the worldwide tourism industry. They observed that contemporary travelers are increasingly interested in not only sampling local dishes but also delving into their origins, preparation techniques, and regional culinary customs.
In line with this trend, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's "Tourism Trends and Policies" report underscores the necessity of diversifying tourism offerings, involving local enterprises via digital platforms, and crafting services centered on distinctive travel experiences.
The Tourism Committee believes Uzbekistan possesses substantial potential in gastronomy tourism. The country's culinary heritage, influenced by the Great Silk Road, boasts renowned dishes such as plov, samsa, lagman, shivit oshi, and tukhumbarak.
Uzbekistan previously earned the title of best gastronomy tourism destination at the National Geographic Traveler Awards, and its cuisine frequently appears on the international TasteAtlas platform.
Under the "Gastro Marketplace" project, a roster of roughly 80 individuals keen on conducting culinary masterclasses has been compiled. This database will be utilized to market their services through international digital platforms. Participants will also undergo training in global standards for serving foreign visitors.
Concurrently, about 40 restaurants in Samarkand, Bukhara, Khorezm, and Tashkent have been selected for the "Tourist Friendly Restaurants" project. These establishments are preparing simplified and balanced traditional dish sets, English-language menus, professional design concepts, and standardized recipe cards.
The Tourism Committee anticipates that these projects will facilitate the integration of Uzbekistan's national cuisine into the digital economy, broaden the international reach of local businesses, introduce contemporary service standards, and bolster the country's gastronomy brand.
Furthermore, the initiatives are expected to foster the growth of family businesses, guesthouses, and restaurants by incorporating them into the global tourism ecosystem.