On January 23, 2025, a delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan visited the headquarters of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in Madrid. The delegation included the First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis and Rector of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy, S. Safoev, Chairman of the Tourism Committee U. Shadiyev, and Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Spain F. Tursunov.

On the UN Tourism side, the discussions were led by the Secretary-General Z. Pololikashvili, along with Executive Directors N. Bayona, Z. Urosevic, and Liu Shijun.

During the meeting, the prospects for further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and UN Tourism were discussed. Both sides emphasized the great potential for deepening collaboration and agreed on the necessity to intensify joint efforts for its implementation. Special attention was given to the implementation of the UN Resolution declaring 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, as well as the role of education in ensuring the sustainable development of the tourism sector. UN Tourism representatives highlighted the importance of training highly qualified professionals in the hospitality sector and positively assessed the efforts of the Uzbek government in this regard.

A significant outcome of the meeting was the signing of two documents between the University of World Economy and Diplomacy and the UN Tourism: a Memorandum of Understanding and a Cooperation Agreement for organizing student internships from UWED at UN Tourism.

These documents aim to strengthen cooperation between the parties with a focus on enhancing Uzbekistan’s potential in the field of sustainable tourism. They envisage the development of institutional and professional capacities at UWED, support for advanced research, and the promotion of academic mobility programs for both faculty and students. This collaboration will facilitate the exchange of knowledge in the field of sustainable tourism and strengthen cultural understanding. Additionally, special emphasis will be placed on the development and implementation of high-quality training and educational programs aimed at enhancing skills and knowledge in the tourism sector.