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From 3 to 14 November 2024, employees of Association of Private Tourism Agencies of Uzbekistan (APTA) took part in a study tour in Greece. The training tour was organized under The USAID Future Growth Initiative.

This enriching event was an important step in studying international experience and developing new ideas for the development of domestic tourism in Uzbekistan.

The tour participants visited Athens, Nafplion, Thessaloniki, the islands of Santorini and Crete, as well as the picturesque Lake Plastira in the Thessaly Mountains. The program was structured to explore the key aspects of the Greek tourism industry in as much depth as possible.

Aims and objectives of the study tour
1- Exchange of experience in the field of travel destinations
Greece is a leader in the development of diverse tourism formats including CBT tourism, eco-tourism, mountain, historical and gastronomic tourism. Tour participants studied how these destinations are organized in order to introduce similar approaches in Uzbekistan.

2. Study of tourism infrastructure
Hotels, museums, catering facilities and other infrastructure were the subject of special attention. Uzbek specialists analyzed service standards and approaches that could be adapted to improve tourist services in the country.

3. Meetings with travel industry experts
A key element of the program was the meetings with representatives of the Greek tourism business. Experts shared their experience in creating unique products and effective methods of attracting tourists.

Key meetings and negotiations
Several working meetings took place during the tour:
- In Athens with Bakolas Dimitris, President of European Profiles.
- In Plastira with representatives of the local administration.
- In Thessaloniki with the Deputy Mayor for Tourism and Culture Vasilis Gakis, his advisors Alexandros Mandrinos and Yorgos Maspadelis.
- In Crete - with representatives of the Heraklion Hotel Union, the Association of Travel Agencies and the Cretan Union of Small Hotels, including Nikolaos Fountoulakis and George Christodoulakis.

These meetings allowed to establish contacts and discuss the potential of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Greece.

Results of the tour
The study tour was an important step for the improvement of the tourism ecosystem in Uzbekistan. The knowledge gained and new contacts will help:
- Develop domestic tourism.
- Create competitive tourism products.
- Improve service quality and introduce sustainable practices.