The "Turizm Fidoyisi" badge was awarded to the best representatives of the tourism industry

The best representatives of the tourism industry were awarded the "Turizm fidoyisi" badge of honor

A solemn event dedicated to September 27 — World Tourism Day was held in Tashkent. It was attended by representatives of the tourism industry, state and public organizations, entrepreneurs, veterans of the sector, and partner organizations.

At the beginning of the ceremony, a festive congratulatory message from the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the workers and veterans of the tourism industry was read out.

Opening the event, the Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, emphasized the growing role of tourism in the development of the country's economy, the creation of new jobs, and the strengthening of Uzbekistan's international prestige.

According to him, the significant results achieved by the industry in recent years have become the practical outcome of the attention and support from the head of state. Ambitious tasks have been set for the sector: to make tourism one of the key sources of economic growth, to accelerate the introduction of modern technologies and digital solutions, to develop new directions with high added value, and to increase the human resource potential of the industry.

Particularly ambitious targets have been defined up to 2030: to bring the number of foreign tourists to 20 million, to increase the share of tourism in the gross domestic product to 7 percent, and the export of tourism services to more than 8 billion dollars.

To achieve these indicators, industry specialists need new approaches, initiative, and high responsibility. In this regard, the recognition of professional excellence and the practical contribution of people who work daily on the development of tourism acquires special significance.

As part of the event, the "Turizm fidoyisi" badge of honor was awarded to the most active specialists in the industry, employees of state bodies, representatives of public organizations, entrepreneurs, workers in the social sphere and mass media, as well as compatriots living abroad.

During the event, new projects and initiatives aimed at the further development of the tourism industry were presented.

In particular, the results of the first stage of the republican souvenir products competition "Uzbek Gift Contest", which was organized jointly by the Tourism Committee, the "Hunarmand" Association, and the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, were summarized. More than 600 works were submitted to the competition. Based on the results of the jury's evaluation, the 10 best masters were determined in such areas as wood, bone, and stone carving, embroidery, jewelry art, and the making of national dolls and textiles.

Separately, special projects "Gastro Marketplace" and "Tourist Friendly Restaurant", aimed at the development of gastronomic tourism, were presented. These initiatives are designed to improve service standards, popularize national cuisine among an international audience, and reveal the gastronomic potential of Uzbekistan as an independent tourism product.

The festive program continued with the interactive quiz "Omadli mehmon". The winners were awarded tourist packages for traveling around Uzbekistan. The event concluded with a gala concert featuring famous domestic performers.

The "Turizm fidoyisi" badge of honor was established by Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 433 dated July 10, 2020, in pursuance of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. UP-5781 dated August 13, 2019 "On measures for the further development of the tourism sector in the Republic of Uzbekistan".

Today, large-scale work is being carried out in Uzbekistan to develop tourism, increase the flow of foreign and domestic travelers, improve the quality of services, and form a modern tourism infrastructure.

In January-August 2026, the country was visited by 9.1 million foreign tourists — 21.1 percent more than in the same period last year.

During this period, the tourist flow from China grew 2.3 times, from Malaysia — 2 times, from Japan — 1.5 times, from the USA — 1.4 times, and from Russia — 1.3 times.