Project Overview
In September 2020, the Global South-South Development Center small demonstration project “Tourism for Poverty Reduction, Employment, and Women’s Development in Uzbekistan” was officially launched (hereafter referred to as the “Uzbekistan Tourism Project”).
This China–Uzbekistan intergovernmental project was initiated by the China Center for International Economic Exchanges and the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. Participating institutions from Uzbekistan included the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan, and the Committee on Women and Gender Equality of Uzbekistan.
The UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Centre for the Asia and the Pacific Region (Beijing) and the School of Archaeology and Museology at Peking University served as supporting institutions, providing academic expertise.
The project aims to improve the understanding of tourism among Uzbek experts and practitioners through intergovernmental cooperation and expert exchange between the two countries, sharing China’s advanced theories, rich practical experience, and flexible policy approaches. It supports the recovery and development of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector in the post-pandemic era and effectively contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
On August 31, 2022, the project was selected as a Best Practice Case in Global South-South and Triangular Cooperation by the United Nations.
Supporting institutions of the Uzbekistan Tourism Project
The Uzbekistan Tourism Project assembled a highly influential expert team, including Li Ji, former Executive Vice President of the Palace Museum and Chairman of the Beijing Palace Museum Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation; Professor Zhan Changfa, Vice Chairman of the China Cultural Relics Protection Foundation; Professor Zhou Qingfu, President of the Central Academy of Culture and Tourism Administration; Professor Wang Kunxin, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Tourism Alliance and member of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism’s 14th Five-Year Plan Expert Committee; and Dr. Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Centre for the Asia and the Pacific Region (Beijing).
Chinese expert team of the Uzbekistan Tourism Project
As a cooperation platform between China and Uzbekistan, the project regularly holds expert seminars and provides recommendations in areas such as poverty reduction, job creation, gender equality, cultural heritage protection, and rural revitalization.
Review of the Uzbekistan Tourism Project
On September 28, 2020, the opening ceremony and expert seminar of the “Tourism for Poverty Reduction, Employment, and Women’s Development in Uzbekistan” project was held at the Beijing Palace Museum Cultural Heritage Protection Foundation. At the meeting, both Chinese and Uzbek sides introduced the project’s objectives, requirements, and expected outcomes, analyzed the background, current situation, and development potential of Uzbekistan’s tourism industry, identified cooperation opportunities with China, and proposed preliminary recommendations based on previous experience.
Opening ceremony on September 28, 2020
On December 23, 2020, an online expert seminar was held. Experts analyzed similarities and differences between Uzbekistan’s tourism industry and those of China and other regions, and proposed constructive suggestions for achieving sustainable and high-quality development of tourism in Uzbekistan. Dr. Li Guanghan, Assistant Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Training and Research Centre for the Asia and the Pacific Region (Beijing), emphasized that cultural heritage must empower local people to develop themselves, enjoy cultural diversity, preserve history, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Online expert seminar on December 23, 2020
On June 22, 2021, a capacity-building training session was held online. Chinese experts delivered lectures to Uzbek tourism administrators, aiming to improve their skills and professional capacity, with special attention to tourism’s potential in poverty reduction, gender equality, and economic growth. In his lecture titled “Responsible Tourism: Promoting Poverty Reduction and Women’s Employment,” Dr. Li Guanghan emphasized the role of tourism and creative industries in fostering inclusive local economies and women’s empowerment.
Online capacity-building training session on June 22, 2021
On November 24, 2021, the China–Uzbekistan Cultural and Tourism Cooperation and Development Forum titled “Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage Protection: From Theory to Practice” was held online. Twenty top experts from both countries delivered keynote speeches, and nearly 300 professional participants attended online, making it one of the most influential bilateral tourism and cultural forums since the pandemic began.
The in-depth exchange between experts opened up more practical channels of cooperation between the two countries and represented a positive step in implementing the Belt and Road Initiative in the new era. Participants agreed to establish normalized, standardized, and large-scale cooperation in the cultural and tourism sectors, and to jointly promote talent training, thematic education, and academic exchange programs, advancing people-to-people exchange and green development under the Belt and Road framework.
China–Uzbekistan cultural and tourism forum on November 24, 2021
Both China and Uzbekistan possess rich tourism and cultural resources. In addressing challenges such as limited employment opportunities, insufficient professional skills, underdeveloped infrastructure, and slow economic growth, tourism development may serve as a new growth driver.
The Global South-South Development Center demonstration project “Tourism for Poverty Reduction, Employment, and Women’s Development in Uzbekistan” was successfully selected for inclusion in Volume IV of Best Practice Cases. It continues to promote sustainable and responsible tourism, protecting cultural heritage, promoting socio-economic development, and reducing gender inequality.
Project selected for Volume IV of Best Practice Cases
The project was launched and implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic and Uzbekistan’s reform period, strengthening China–Uzbekistan communication and cooperation during a time of global instability and tourism slowdown. It shares innovative models of cultural heritage protection and management, improves the skills and professionalism of Uzbekistan’s tourism administrators, and enhances the resilience and sustainability of its tourism industry.
Uzbekistan Tourism Project expert team
The dissemination of experience and knowledge from the Uzbekistan Tourism Project will continue to inspire the development of safe and responsible tourism industries in Uzbekistan, China, Belt and Road partner countries, and other regions of the world, further generating beneficial and effective projects, initiatives, and actions in poverty reduction, employment creation, gender equality, and sustainable development.
Compilation of international media reports on the Uzbekistan Tourism Project
For more details and results of the project, leave a message in the WeChat public account of the Peking University Cultural Heritage Center with the keyword “China–Uzbekistan Handbook” to obtain the official summary report PDF.
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