To mark the beginning of a new phase in its Silk Road Program, UNWTO, in collaboration with the government of Uzbekistan, will hold the 5th International Meeting on the Silk Road on October 8-9, 2010 in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. The meeting will introduce new concepts for Silk Road branding and marketing, destination management, and travel facilitation, and will set out key strategies for the UNWTO’s “Silk Road Action Plan 2010-2011."

The 5th International Meeting on the Silk Road will convene stakeholders to discuss how the sector can work together to drive economic growth by strengthening the Silk Road tourism brand. The meeting aims to inspire increased collaboration among member states and establish a framework for easing travel facilitation to create a more seamless Silk Road travel experience.

“There is significant potential for tourism growth along the Silk Road, and UNWTO is giving new impetus to this initiative as it develops its Silk Road Action Plan 2010-2011,” said UNWTO executive director, Mr. Zoltan Somogy. “At the 5th International Meeting, we are anticipating strong attendance from across the region to help ensure that our key priority actions for the coming year are reflective of the interests of all Silk Road stakeholders.”

The Silk Road is a network of routes, which for centuries served as a vital link between the East and the West. The Silk Road was a hub for the exchange of cultures, crafts, ideas, technologies, and beliefs, traversed by conquerors, traders, and missionaries. All this has left a rich cultural heritage for visitors to enjoy today.