Samarkand Campus of the International Tourism Academy (Uzbekistan) Established Under UNWTO Patronage

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has approved the establishment of the Samarkand Campus of the International Tourism Academy, operating under the patronage of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

This decision was formalized in Presidential Resolution No. PQ-350 dated 20 November 2025.

Objectives and Key Functions

The Academy aims to:

• develop cooperation with at least one of the world’s top 10 leading tourism education institutions and implement joint training programs.
• provide short-term professional development (up to 1 month) and long-term retraining programs (up to 8 months).
• enhance the skills of specialists working in tourism and related sectors.

Organizational Structure

The Samarkand Campus forms part of the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage. All academic programs will be conducted in Uzbek, Russian, and English in line with national education standards.

Training and Grants

Starting 1 December 2025:

• Tourism sector specialists will be eligible for contract-based retraining and upskilling courses.
• 100 annual grants will be provided to talented professionals from UNWTO member countries to study at the Academy.

International Cooperation

The Academy welcomes collaboration with foreign ministries, educational institutions, and tourism authorities in order to:

• Develop joint academic programs;
• Facilitate faculty and student exchanges;
• Implement international capacity-building projects;
• Support innovation and research in tourism and cultural heritage.

The establishment of the Samarkand Campus reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to strengthening global tourism education and fostering international partnerships within the UNWTO framework.