The historic city of Tashkent has been officially designated to serve as the tourism capital of the Turkic world in the year 2027. The symbolic key for this prestigious status was formally handed over during a high-profile closing ceremony of the 6th Korkut Ata Turkic World Film Festival held in Istanbul, Turkey.
Key Takeaways: The handover ceremony took place on November 7, with Turkey's Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, presenting the symbolic key to Abdulaziz Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. This transition follows Ankara, which held the title of the tourism capital for the preceding year of 2026.
During the official proceedings, the Turkish minister extended congratulations to the Uzbek authorities, praising the country's rich historical and cultural heritage, vibrant national traditions, and substantial tourism capacity. Officials asserted that such cooperative cultural initiatives are intended to foster closer ties among Turkic-speaking nations, though long-term regional integration remains subject to ongoing geopolitical negotiations.
In response, Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov expressed gratitude and formally invited representatives from all Turkic-world nations to visit Tashkent in 2027. He placed special emphasis on welcoming international filmmakers, encouraging cinematic professionals to explore Uzbekistan and prominently feature its ancient architectural landmarks, diverse landscapes, and deep cultural heritage in upcoming film productions.
This international recognition aligns with broader cultural strategies previously promoted by the Uzbek leadership, including President Shavkat Mirziyoyev's proposals to launch the international scientific and encyclopedic project 'Educators of the Turkic World' and establish a unified digital library dedicated to the works and archival documents of the Jadid movement figures.
Source: podrobno.uz