On the eve of the MATTA Fair 2025, Kuala Lumpur hosted the Uzbekistan – Malaysia Tourism Forum, organized by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Samarkand region’s administration.

The event also included B2B meetings between the two countries’ travel companies. More than 120 participants participated, including the Director of Community Development and Urban Well-being of Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Ismadi bin Sakirin, the Director of the Research and Training Division at the Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC), Nur Alyssa Coraline Yussin, and the heads of the BUMITRA and PAPUH travel associations.

The Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Malaysia, Karomiddin Gadoyev, informed the event participants about the ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s tourism industry, infrastructure development, and the conditions created for foreign guests.

Samarkand region’s Deputy Hokim, Rustam Kobilov, noted the wide opportunities provided to Muslim tourists and stressed the importance of the pilgrimage destination.

The forum presented tourist routes in Uzbekistan, including destinations for cultural and pilgrimage tourism, food tours, business tourism (MICE), and Umrah+ combined packages.

Uzbekistan Airways has provided up-to-date information on direct flights between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur and conditions for comfortable travel.

Tour operators’ B2B meetings contributed to the exchange of views on promoting Uzbekistan as a tourist destination and increasing the flow of Malaysian tourists.

Special attention was paid to demonstrating the Uzbek culture elements: the guests were able to get acquainted with handicrafts, silk, and light industry products, and taste national cuisine dishes, including Samarkand pilaf.

Following the event, agreements were reached on launching new travel packages and intensifying cooperation between the two countries’ tour operators.

Aziza Alimova, UzA