India and
Uzbekistan signed an action plan on tourism cooperation.
The action plan
was signed by Dr. Lalit K. Panwar, CMD, Indian Tourism Development Cooperation
and Rustam Mirzaev, Chairman of the Uzbektourism.
Uzbekistan's
Deputy Prime Minister Rustom Azimov and Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant
Sahai were also present on the occasion.
Welcoming the
visiting dignitary, Subodh Kant Sahai said that India and Uzbekistan have age
old ties and even in the past people used to visit each other country.
He also stressed
the need for cooperation in developing tourism infrastructure in both
countries.
Sahai said the
institutes of hotel management and food craft institute under the Ministry of
Tourism can be utilized by Uzbekistan for human resource development of their
tourism requirements.
Rustom Azimov
said that his country looks forward for more cooperation with India in tourism
sector.
He said India is
a very popular country amongst Uzbeks and they look towards India as a growing
global power.
The action plan
envisages exchange of tourists/media who would highlight the tourism potential
of each other's country, setting up of joint ventures in an effort to promote
the business of tourism and travel and establishing of the Representative
offices in each other's country for easy and convenient accessibility of
information and updates.
It also includes
construction and/or utilization of each other tourist facilities, creation of
tourism infrastructure to promote tourist friendly destinations, education and
re-training of personnel, production of goods, souvenirs, equipment and stock
for promotion of tourism wherever the viability exists and organization of
advertising and other promotional activity.
Both
sides will also consider exchange visits of tour operators and travel media to
promote tourism between the two countries.