Samarkand Tourism Forum is a platform created for tourism industry professionals and businesses that want to grow and earn with us. We invite tour operators, tour guides, restaurateurs, hoteliers, tourism-affiliated businesses, and representatives of the creative and public sectors to Samarkand.
During the two days of the forum, practitioners and insiders from the region's tourism industry will share their ideas and solutions to finding customers, opening up new niches and markets, and earning more. STF is exclusively focused on real business cases, current travel trends, and proven strategies that can be immediately implemented.
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Samarkand
All events of the Samarkand Tourism Forum will be held in Samarkand. The main venue will be the Institute of Foreign Languages conveniently located in the city center.
February 10 - 11 (Fri, Sat)
The opening will take place on the first day in the Assembly Hall of the Institute of Foreign Languages.
DAY 1. FEBRUARY 10, FRIDAY
All events are basically held in Russian. English speakers participate in some of them. Consecutive translation will be provided.
PANEL DISCUSSION
HOW CAN A GUIDE EARN MORE MONEY? BEST PRACTICES
Moderator: Said Muminov, Silk Road Destinations (Samarkand).
Speakers: Ravshan Turakulov, CEO in Silk Road Destinations (Samarkand)
Shavkat Turdikulov, Sogda Tour (Samarkand)
Nargiza Salomova, Chairman of the Association of Guides of Uzbekistan and National Trainer for World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (Tashkent)Otabek Karshiev, top category guide (Tashkent).
MASTER CLASS
MOTIVATION AND STAFF RETENTION IN TOURISM BUSINESS: HOW A SATISFIED EMPLOYEE LEADS YOU TO A HAPPY CUSTOMER
Speaker: Tatiana Koval, corporate culture and HR expert, lecturer, development director in"Apostrophe" Agency (Tashkent).
MASTER CLASS
HOW TO AMAZE YOUR GUESTS?
Speaker: Alexandra Tosun, co-founder inINDY GUIDE (Zurich).
English-speaking speakers participate in this event. The consecutive translation will be provide.
MASTER CLASS
HOW EXPEDITIONS COULD HELP WITH BRANDS AND TERRITORIES PROMOTION
How the format of expedition makes all this possible on the example of a common initiative made by the largest gold mining company in Russia "Polyus" and the travel team DDEXP.
Speaker: Sergey Pishchulov, marketing specialist and head of the expedition project “Degree of Discovery” (Moscow)
MASTER CLASS
HOW TO CREATE GROUP PROGRAMS WHERE TOURISTS FEEL THEMSELVES AS ON AN INDIVIDUAL TOUR?
Is it true that if a tourist has purchased a group tour, then his only option is life by the rules? If the tourism business is built on the principle of tourist return, recommendations and word of mouth, is it possible to make every traveler happy with a group tour? Let's talk about the importance of free time inside the trip and how each member of the group can get the feeling as if your tour were made for them exactly.
Speaker: Evgeny Zalberg, guide, trainer, head of Business Development at
Turmashina(St. Petersburg).
MASTER CLASS
WHEN TOURISM GOES WRONG: CULTURE VS. ECONOMICS
Speakers:
Jason Brahim, sport and extreme travel enthusiast (Pittsburgh)
Farrukh Irnazarov, head of representative office ofChemonics International(Tashkent)
English-speaking speakers participate in this event. The consecutive translation will be provide.
Round Table
EDUCATION & TOURISM INDUSTRY IN UZBEKISTAN
This round table will bring the tourism industry and academia closer together to discuss, the then, now, and future of the tourism and hospitality industries in Uzbekistan. The panel members represent both sides of this vital industry that play a significant role in the economic development of Uzbekistan. What can they share to make a tourism future brighter and more fruitful? And what doors may open with such exchanges to bring both sides to better cooperation for common results?
Participants:
Akmaljon Odilov, head of the Department of “General Professional and Special Disciplines” of the “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (Samarkand)
Dr. Indira Rakhmanova, Management Development Institute of Singapore (Tashkent)
Malika Mirzaeva, the owner of «Platan» restaurant and hotel (Samarkand)
Sanjar Halmuradov, head of Peopletraveltour-operator (Tashkent)
Ziroat Rasulova, founder of Soda Tour and Silk Tour tour-operator (Samarkand)
WORKSHOP
HOW CAN A GUIDE BUILD A PERSONAL BRAND ON SOCIAL NETWORKS?
Speaker: Kamila Gafurova, tour guide and Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages teacher (Samarkand)
ROUND TABLE
HOW MUCH DO GREEN TECHNOLOGIES COST?
Moderator: Anton Koval, sustainability development expert, CEO in"Apostrophe" Agency(Tashkent).
Speakers:
Sherzod Kattakhodjaev, manager of the UNDP project "Market Transformation for Sustainable Rural Housing in Uzbekistan" (Tashkent)
Martin Petrich, sustainable tourism development expert of the consulting companymascontour(Berlin)
Nazira Miinekeyeva, control manager of the Olive Kyrgyzstan hotel chain, an independent expert in OTA online sales and hotel automatisation.
English-speaking speakers participate in this event. The consecutive translation will be provide.
Coffee breaks
Coffee breaks and networking throughout the day.
Cultural Program


DAY 2. FEBRUARY 11, SATURDAY
PANEL DISCUSSION
GROWTH POINTS: HOW TO MAKE A CITY BRAND NEW TOURIST DESTINATION
Moderator:Michael Shamshidov, international tourism development expert (Tashkent).
Participants:
Tatiana Spurnova, founder of the Business Transformation Bureau and creative agency MaxMedium, focused on MICE clients, business mentor, coach and author of bestsellers about MICE and Event business (Alanya)
Diyor Mirzaakhmedov, Chairman of the Board of Marketing Association of Uzbekistan (Tashkent)
Yerkin Tikenov, head of the consulting company Inside Travel, PhD candidate (Almaty)
Foziljon Kasimov, head and founder of the Emehmon service and company (Tashkent).
master class
HOW TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN PRACTICE? REAL CASES FROM KYRGYZSTAN
Experience of tour operators, guest business and associations of Kyrgyzstan. How it works and what results the partnership of local tourism associations and international partners brings in the implementation of sustainable practices.
Damira Raeva, Deputy Director of Helvetas Kyrgyzstan
Nargiza Kudaiberdieva, Project Manager GreenTour-Sustainable Tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic
Kuban Ashyrkulov, CATOS expert.
workshop
HOW TO MAKE THE BEST RESTAURANT SERVICE
About this and much more, a workshop from two restaurant experiences and practitioners.
Speaker:
Alexandr Mashkov, service-trainer, expert on service and hospitality (Tashkent)
Malika Sootbekova, ex-CEO of the "Mayram Group" network, expert in strategic management of the restaurant business (Bishkek).
MASTER CLASS
WHAT DOES A CORPORATE TOURIST WANT?
Speaker:Tatiana Spurnova, founder of the Business Transformation Bureau and creative agencyMaxMedium, focused on MICE clients, business mentor, coach and author of bestsellers about MICE and Event business (Alanya).
ROUND TABLE
NOT ONLY BURNING MAN: FESTIVAL CASES IN CENTRAL ASIA
Moderator:Farrukh Irnazarov, head of representative office of Chemonics International(Tashkent).
Speakers:
Sanjar Halmuradov, Stihia Festival (Tashkent)
Tatiana Pilpani, CEO in FOURE Festival andFOUREevent Agency(Almaty)
Chingiz Batyrbekov, co-founder and CEO of KOLFEST International Music & Arts Festival (Bishkek).
MASTER CLASS
HOW TO GET A 9+ RATE ON BOOKING.COM, TRIPADVISOR AND GOOGLE
If the hotel is not on the Internet, then it does not have a business at all. Today it is obvious to everyone that being online is vital. However, just "being" is not enough. It is necessary to work with OTA skillfully. What is important to understand about Booking.com in order to enjoy all the benefits that the platform provides? And how is Booking.com related to meta-search engines and websites for travelers?
Speaker: Nazira Miinekeyeva, control manager of the Olive Kyrgyzstan hotel chain, an independent expert in OTA online sales and hotel automatization (Bishkek).
MASTER CLASS
AR AND STORYTELLING: IMMERSIVE PROMENADE-PERFORMANCE "IN.VISIBLE SAMARKAND"
Speakers:
Ravshan Turakulov, CEO inSilk Road Destinations (Самарканд)
Ksenia Anikeeva, Creative and Executive producer of Performing Arts, concept and script in “IN.VISIBLE SAMARKAND” (Moscow - Samarkand).
PANEL DISCUSSION
AGRITOURISM ON THE SILK ROAD: CURRENT PRACTICES AND FUTURE PROSPECTS
The SCO countries are rich in fertile agricultural lands. Agriculture is the mainstream revenue source of they nations and contributes to more than half of employment sources. In spite of this, there is a lack of rural tourism in these countries which is an issue of national importance. Now, when The Silk Road as a destination is taking a step ahead and oriented toward promoting tourism and making their countries top tourist destinations, agritourism can do a lot in this regard. Besides, for developing countries, agritourism provides a number of economic benefits.
We will talk about innovative approaches and ideas in agritourism and will observe what's being done already, what more needs to be done, and what incredible strategies may be implemented to bring agritourism to Central Asia. We will also discover the potential of agritourism in Uzbekistan and how it is currently developing in Georgia.
Moderator: Farrukh Irnazarov, head of representative office of Chemonics International in Uzbekistan (Tashkent)
Muhammad Umar Aslam, Agriculture and Agritourism Expert, International Department at International Agriculture University Uzbekistan (Islamabad)
Ian Patterson, Professor of Tourism Management Department at “Silk Road” International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage (Brisbane)
Lela Khartishvili, Agritourism consultant at FAO and Associate Professor at Ilia State University (Tbilisi).
Coffee breaks
Coffee breaks and networking throughout the day.


При поддержке Министерства культуры и туризма Республики Узбекистан

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