The initiative to develop and adopt a Global Code of Safe Tourism was announced by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in October 2023 at the 25th session of the UN General Assembly Tourism in Samarkand.

It is noted that the conflicts and unstable situation observed today in different regions of the world have a negative impact on the development of tourism.

In this regard, there is an urgent need to develop a unified approach to the safety and security of tourists, and the development of the proposed code is a step forward towards creating a safer, more sustainable and equitable tourism ecosystem.

It is expected that the developed code will become one of the tools for sustainable tourism development and will include measures to protect the environment and preserve cultural heritage.

Speaking during the session, UN Tourism Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili expressed gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan for the republic’s enormous contribution to the organization’s activities, noting that Uzbekistan is its most active participant and contributes not only to the development of the global tourism industry, but also to improving the image of UN Tourism as a whole.

The Secretary General emphasized that Uzbekistan demonstrates an example of an integrated approach to tourism development, which can serve as a model for other countries in the region.