Meet Central Asian government agencies, tourism operators, hotel and catering sector representatives and education institutions at the Discovery Central Asia Travel Forum 2013, 27-28 April

The forum is inviting professionals in travel, tourism, hospitality and catering management, and education to meet their counterparts in Central Asia, including government agencies, and discuss working together to achieve the region’s enormous potential. 

Guest speakers include:

Government agencies from Tajikistan

Tour operators from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan

Central Asia and its people have much to offer the world as a centre for growth in tourism:

• Inbound Central Asian tourism industry worth $300million in 2010/11, year on year growth of 12%
• Over 1.5million Central Asians travelled abroad as tourists in 2011 in an industry worth over $900 million, with year on year growth of 20%
• Over 2,000 tour operators were working in Central Asia in 2010/11, year on year growth of 10%

Interest in the region’s natural resources grows daily, but so far the region has yet to develop its enormous potential for tourism. Last year, 2011, marked the 20th anniversary of the Central Asian republics’ independence, and during the past two decades, people in these countries have begun to travel the world as tourists.

However, tour operators are yet to match demand with service, and are looking to international counterparts for business partner opportunities.

Education

Similarly, Central Asian students are a growing economic force in the education sector:

• Over 12 000 Central Asian students attended higher education overseas in 2010/11, year on year growth of 20 %
• Over 200 000 Central Asian students attended higher education in their home countries in 2010/11, year on year growth of 8%

Despite new further and higher education facilities opening every year, courses remain oversubscribed, providing a great opportunity for foreign investors and universities to establish their educational systems in the region.

Likewise, those choosing to study abroad need to be fully informed of the international opportunities available. Discovery Central Asia Travel Forum will host representatives from top Central Asian and international colleges to discuss how to best to meet this growing demand. 

Other issues regarding tourism and hospitality in Central Asia will also be discussed and analysed by leading specialists at the Travel Forum.

The Travel Forum will take place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan on 27-28 April 2013, with 4 sessions:

• Central Asian inbound tourism;
• Central Asian outbound tourism;
• Hospitality in Central Asia;
• Education in Central Asia.

This forum will be for Central Asian and international professionals and experts in various sectors of the tourism, hospitality and educational industries.