ONLINE MEETING

Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan ONLINE MEETING “TOURISM POTENTIAL OF KARAKALPAKSTAN: NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES” PROGRAMME 16 June 2021 INTRODUCTION The UNESCO Tashkent Office in close cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan is organizing an Online Meeting “Tourism Potential of Karakalpakstan: New Opportunities and Challe. [...] The meeting is aimed to bring together all stakeholders to discuss new opportunities and challenges in the promotion of the tourism potential of Karakalpakstan and therefore its contribution to the development of sustainable tourism in the region. [...] This meeting is the first meeting of a series launching a new project component which aims to raise the awareness of the cultural and natural heritage of Karakalpakstan at the international level (and, as an indirect outcome, at a national level too) by bringing together all interested stakeholders to act jointly in raising the level of engagement of the local private-public sector and local commu. [...] The aim of the project is to address the environmental, social and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through comprehensive solutions in addressing the environmental issues, promoting access to basic services, improving living standards and developing sustainable tourism in Karakalpakstan. [...] Moreover, the project’s objective is to enhance the social wellbeing of the rural population, including women and youth, through expanding income generation opportunities and promoting inclusive sustainable growth of the tourism sector in Karakalpakstan through supporting and strengthening the development of community-based and eco-tourism in the Aral Sea region.