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- Uzum Saylı Festival
Uzum Saylı Festival
Cappadocia University signed an important cooperation agreement during the international “Uzum Sayli” (Grape Festival) held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. Invited as a guest speaker, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Halil Burak Sakal, Director of the Center for Social and Strategic Studies (CSSS) at Cappadocia University, delivered a presentation on sustainable tourism, international collaborations, and the development of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector.
As part of the event, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Tashkent Provincial Government, MDIS Tashkent, and Cappadocia University CSSS for the preparation of a Tourism and Services Sector Master Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The plan aims to support regional development and establish a sustainable tourism infrastructure, focusing specifically on the districts of Parkent, Bostanlik, Angren, and Ohangaron.
In recent years, Uzbekistan has witnessed significant growth in its tourism sector. The number of international tourists rose from 6.7 million in 2019 to 10.2 million in 2024. Tourism revenues increased from 2.14 billion USD in 2023 to approximately 3.5 billion USD in 2024. In the first five months of 2025, 4.2 million tourists entered the country, marking a 48.2 percent annual increase. During the same period, Tashkent International Airport served 8.7 million passengers, while Samarkand International Airport experienced a 37 percent increase, reaching 1.38 million passengers.
The signed MoU includes the following key steps: the establishment of a joint expert group; field research and data collection in selected districts; training programs and seminars to build local capacity; joint applications for funding to support the preparation of the Master Plan; and the development of a comprehensive strategic document for the 2026–2030 period.
This cooperation aims to guide Uzbekistan’s growing tourism sector with a strategic, sustainable, and evidence-based approach. With the contribution of Cappadocia University's expertise and experience, this initiative lays the groundwork for a strong and long-term academic and sectoral partnership between the two countries.
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