Samarkand plans to offer pilgrimage tours for Malaysians

By R.Ravichandran

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The Samarkand region of Uzbekistan is planning to offer pilgrimage and cultural heritage tours and flights between Kuala Lumpur, Samarkand and Jeddah.

Samarkand's Deputy Governor, (Head of Department for Tourism and Cultural Heritage) Rustam Kobilov said the proposal was for Malaysian travellers to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Samarkand and spend a few days there visiting cultural and religious sites before flying to Jeddah, where they can continue to travel to Makkah to perform Umrah. 

He said another proposed package was to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Jeddah and then visit Samarkand before returning to Kuala Lumpur.

"We have discussed with interested parties here… they are very keen. Now we are working on it," he told Bernama after delivering a talk on the tourism and investment potential of Samarkand at Uzbekistan's Embassy on Tuesday.

Kobilov said they have already discussed with Malaysia and Uzbekistan airline companies about the matter, he said, adding that they had shown keen interest on the proposal.

Kobilov said they were also working on a proposal introducing Samarkand national cuisine such as Samarkand pilaf in Malaysian restaurants and for Malaysian cuisine to be introduced in Samarkand which is located on the ancient silk route.

He explained that the Samarkand region once known as "Pearl of the Eastern Muslim World" is one of the most developed regions of Uzbekistan and its development was largely driven by industry, agriculture and the services industry including tourism and hospitality.

"Today Samarkand is becoming the “Tourist Gate of New Uzbekistan”. Besides being one of the most ancient cities of the world, Samarkand with modern infrastructure and facilities is welcoming foreign investors and travellers," he further said.

The event was hosted by Uzbekistan's Embassy in Malaysia. It was organised in conjunction with the visit of the delegation of Samarkand region, headed by Kobilov.

The event was also attended by Malaysia's Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Malaysia Ravshan Usmanov, Chief Specialist of the Protocol Service of "Silk Road Samarkand" Bekhruz Mamasadikov as well as the various stakeholders in the tourism and hospitality industries in Malaysia.

The Deputy Governor also pointed out that Samarkand boasts a wide range of industrial plants, along with a textile industry which is becoming an economic driver for the development of the region .

Besides that, products from the agriculture sector are being exported to more than 60 countries, including Malaysia, he said.

Samarkand with a population of more than 700,000 now and a history of about 2,750 years is known for its mosques, mausoleums, madrassas, bazaars, handicrafts and fruits.

Kobilov said since 2022 a brand-new terminal at Samarkand International Airport and the largest international tourism complex of Central Asia – “Silk Road Samarkand” has been operational.

"The new tourism complex features eight world-class hotels, a congress centre, an historical ethnographical park and much more. The ethnographical park called “Eternal City”, highlighting oriental bazaars, handicraft workshops, masterpieces of Islamic architecture, Uzbek traditional tea-houses will immerse travellers into modern interpretation of a medieval town," Mamasadikov said at the presentation.

He explained that the venue has already started attracting high-level international summits.

Over the short period of time, “Silk Road Samarkand” hosted the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit, Organisation of Turkic States Summit, EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting, and other international events, Mamasadikov further said.

-- BERNAMA