25 UNWTO in Samarkand - meeting and party

On 16-20 October 2023, the 25th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. We were there as press and can tell you about both the conference and the grand gala dinner.

25 UNWTO in Samarkand - in the newly built Silk Road Samarkand.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) organises a biennial General Assembly, which this year was hosted by Uzbekistan. The conference was held in the mythical city of Samarkand, in incredibly beautiful premises in a newly built part of the city called "Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Centre".

In this brand new neighbourhood, you'll find exclusive hotels, impressive conference facilities and an island of new traditional-style buildings called 'Eternal City'.

25 UNWTO in Samarkand - with participants from 117 countries

This year's General Assembly, 25 UNWTO in Samarkand, brought together participants from 117 countries. The UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, welcomed all delegates and emphasised the importance of this Assembly as a collective effort to promote common priorities for the future of tourism: investment and education.

Several different issues were on the conference agenda. For example, tourism leaders in Europe discussed stronger cooperation and adopted the 'Agenda for Europe - Tourism Leading the Change'. Sustainable tourism was also a topic, in the context of the statistical framework 'Measuring the Sustainability of Tourism'. In addition, 54 new villages were designated as "best tourist cities in 2023”.

Finally, members agreed that the 26th session of the UNWTO General Assembly will be held in Saudi Arabia. You can watch an official film of the conference in Samarkand here:

President of Uzbekistan at 25 UNWTO in Samarkand

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, visited the conference on the opening day, which involved a heavy security presence. The President gave an opening speech, in which he expressed his full support for the work of the UNWTO and for the development of tourism.

It is clear that Uzbekistan is making a conscious and thoughtful investment in tourism. In addition to building and developing, it has ensured that residents of many countries can travel to Uzbekistan without a visa, which facilitates tourism.

FREEDOMtravel present in the press room at 25 UNWTO

We, from the travel magazine FREEDOMtravel, were present in the press room during parts of the conference. About 100 journalists from many different countries gathered in the press room.

Some of the meetings were broadcast on a big screen, and we also had access to a digital bank of photos and videos. Excellently organised!

What we were not prepared for was the fact that we would be interviewed by several major TV channels, both from Uzbekistan and from other countries ...

Exhibition on different regions of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has 12 different regions, and an exhibition was organised at the 25th UNWTO in Samarkand to showcase them.

We have to say that the exhibition was beautifully arranged, with models of oriental buildings against a gorgeous starry background.

The different regions showcased regional costumes, music and food, and told us about sights and opportunities for tourists, such as staying in yurts or experiencing nature. We were able to try on amazing costumes from the city and region of Bukhara - a historically very interesting place, which we unfortunately did not have the opportunity to visit this time.

In addition to regions within the country, some of the neighbouring countries, such as Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, also made an appearance. We can conclude that there is a lot to see and experience in Central Asia!

Mergers and dinners

On several evenings, dinners and mingles were organised for conference participants and the press. One evening there was a luxurious buffet in the conference building. As well as eating and mingling, there was an exhibition of large works of art, reminiscent of huge gems, each symbolising a region of Uzbekistan.

Another night, there was a party for the press, in an exclusive venue, with a fantastic dinner and music that got many people on the dance floor.

Gala dinner in the Eternal City

The most spectacular party was the gala dinner held in the Eternal City, the newly built and beautiful 'tourist district' created in the Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Centre, based on historical ideals.

I (Helena) initially thought "oh, I don't have a gala dress with me", but that was quickly resolved. Our guides had planned for us to rent local costumes for this cultural evening.

The dinner was held in a beautiful venue, with delicious buffet food and a band playing catchy music from around the world. Participants danced to everything from oriental music to Spanish rhythms, and we even got to hear an ABBA song!

Amazing show in the Eternal City

In addition to dinner and dancing, we were treated to a fantastic show on the large revolving outdoor stage in the Eternal City.

There was singing, dancing, fiddling, light shows and background film on big screens. No expense was spared, so to speak.

We were perhaps most impressed by the drone show. Lots of drones in the sky wrote "Welcome to Samarkand" and then formed themselves into an oriental city. Last but not least, the drones formed a camel caravan, slowly moving across the sky. Absolutely magical!

But it wasn't over yet... The show ended with a colourful and intense fireworks display.

Party with dancers in the Eternal City

At the end of the show, we went back to the streets of the Eternal City to enjoy the outdoor party. The houses shone beautifully against the evening sky, the music pulsed infectiously through the walls and people dressed in colourful festive clothes lined the streets. The atmosphere was great and it almost felt like we were in a film.

The different regions have different local costumes and different dances. Everybody showed up in the streets and many people got caught up in the rhythms. What a night! This was an experience we will never forget.

More about Samarkand

It was very interesting to have the opportunity to attend the 25th UNWTO in Samarkand. We combined the visit with travelling around the city and its surroundings. Soon we will tell you more about this fairytale city!