UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting 2012
11.02.2012

UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting 2012 Wednesday 7 March 2012, ITB Berlin 11.00-12.30, ‘Berlin’ Room - Hall 7.3

Mr. Rustam Mirzaev
Chairman
National Company ‘Uzbektourism’
47, Istiqlol str.,
TASHKENT 100047
Uzbekistan

Dear Mr. Rustam Mirzaev,

In 2012, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), supported by ITB Berlin, will again be organising a series of activities designed to raise the profile of the Silk Road at the world’s leading travel trade show. As part of this programme, I am pleased to invite you to the second UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting, which will take place at ITB Berlin on Wednesday 7 March 2012.

At this year’s edition UNWTO will launch its new Silk Road Action Plan 2012/2013 and present its planned activities and priorities for the coming two years. 2012/2013 will see the development of a new branding strategy for the Silk Road as part of UNWTO’s efforts with its Member States and Affiliate Members to increase trade and consumer awareness and interest in the Silk Road. At the local level, UNWTO will be setting up a framework for capacity building together with its Themis Foundation to help increase the regional dispersal of tourist flows and community benefits from tourism. On the topic of travel facilitation, UNWTO remains committed to campaigning to Governments on the importance of streamlining visa processes and border control procedures for tourism growth.

This year’s Ministers’ Meeting will have a special focus on the importance of tourism routes in strengthening the product offer along the Silk Road and consolidating its position as a comprehensive network of destinations. Guest speakers will highlight the demonstrated positive impacts that tourism routes can bring with regard to collaborative marketing, public-private partnerships, job creation, and safeguarding of natural and cultural heritage. We look forward to hearing you share your own experiences in this area.

I would very much appreciate confirmation of your attendance in the Silk Road Ministers Summit at the earliest convenience through online registration at the UNWTO website (www.unwto.org/silkroad). Should you experience any difficulties, please contact silkroad@unwto.org or via fax to (34) 91 571 37 33. In case of unavailability, I welcome the presence of your Silk Road Task Force Member or most senior representative.

In addition, Member States are encouraged to take advantage of the other Silk Road events that will be organised by UNWTO, supported by ITB Berlin. These include: the ‘Flavours of the Silk Road’ VIP Walk (directly following the Ministers’ Meeting at 12.30-13.30), the UNWTO Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road (Thursday, 8 March 2011), and the ITB Travel Raffle (10-11 March 2011). The attached documentation outlines the details on how your country can participate. Kindly also see the full list of UNWTO Activities at ITB Berlin 2012 available on the UNWTO website.

I also take the opportunity to draw your attention to an opportunity to become involved in a special initiative UNWTO is running with leading hospitality management school Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). In 2012, 200 of EHL’s final year students will work intensively on researching and analysing the tourism and hospitality infrastructure situation in 10 UNWTO Member States, and then produce a 5-10 year plan on how each country can position itself on the Silk Road. Pariticipating Member States will be invited to an EHL/UNWTO Silk Road Think Tank, where the most innovative strategies will be presented. As participation is limited to ten Member States, we encourage you to kindly complete the attached expression of interest form at your earliest convenience. I thank you for your on-going support and look forward to welcoming you in Berlin at the UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting 2012. Please accept, dear Minister, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Yours sincerely,

Zoltan Somogyi
Executive Director, UNWTO

Attachments:
UNWTO Silk Road Programme events and activities 2012
UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting Programme (provisional)
UNWTO/Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL) Strategy Initiative participation form