BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22. Uzbekistan and
Kuwait are exploring the launch of direct flights and new tourism
initiatives as the two countries seek to strengthen travel ties and
increase visitor flows.
This was reflected in the statement by the Uzbekistan's Tourism
Committee.
The plans were discussed during a meeting between A. Akkulov,
Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and
the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
the State of Kuwait to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Turki Khalid
Hamad Al-Mikrad.
According to the committee, the talks focused on expanding
bilateral cooperation in tourism and promoting Uzbekistan's
historical and cultural attractions to travelers from Kuwait.
"The close and trusting relations between the leaders of
Uzbekistan and Kuwait have elevated bilateral cooperation to a
qualitatively new level, creating a solid foundation for further
collaboration," the committee said in a statement.
Among the proposals discussed was the organization of a
familiarization tour across Uzbekistan for prominent Kuwaiti
bloggers, media representatives and tour operators to raise
awareness of the country's tourism offerings in the Gulf
market.
The two sides also reviewed prospects for launching direct air
services between Uzbekistan and Kuwait, which could facilitate
business and leisure travel while supporting growth in bilateral
tourism.
In addition, the meeting explored opportunities to develop
cooperation in mountain and hunting tourism, including the exchange
of expertise and best practices in those segments.
Ambassador Al-Mikrad stressed the importance of creating more
favorable conditions for Kuwaiti visitors traveling to
Uzbekistan.
He highlighted the need to address inconveniences related to the
registration of mobile devices belonging to foreign nationals
staying in Uzbekistan for more than 30 days and proposed
simplifying the procedure in coordination with the relevant
government agencies.
"The issue should be resolved through coordinated proposals
developed jointly with the competent authorities," the ambassador
said.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue
working with government agencies and airlines on the potential
launch of direct flights, expand practical cooperation in mountain
and hunting tourism, and implement joint promotional initiatives
aimed at increasing tourist flows between Uzbekistan and
Kuwait.
The discussions reflect Uzbekistan's broader strategy of
attracting more visitors from the Gulf region by improving air
connectivity, enhancing tourism infrastructure and promoting niche
travel products. Direct flights, if launched, would strengthen
transport links with Kuwait while supporting the country's efforts
to diversify inbound tourism markets and boost the contribution of
the tourism sector to economic growth.
