TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, October 19. Uzbekistan’s Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov and the Global Head of the Public Sector, Executive Vice President for Strategic Development of Mastercard, Nikola Villa have signed a Memorandum on Understanding in the field of tourism development, Trend reports.
The document was signed within the framework of the 25th General Assembly of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), held in Uzbekistan’s Samarkand.
The signed memorandum involves the accession of the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan to the Mastercard Tourism Innovation Hub.
"We are pleased to announce the beginning of long-term cooperation with Uzbekistan on the development of the tourism industry. We are proud of the opportunity to contribute to its development using our technological platform, advanced payment solutions, experience in implementing many cases around the world, data analytics competencies, and more," Nicolla Villa said.
Mastercard Tourism Innovation Hub will work with Uzbekistan’s Ministry and subordinate organizations in Uzbekistan in terms of developing joint digital solutions for the government, domestic and foreign tourists, and tourism enterprises.
Areas of cooperation also include promoting the development of a safe, reliable, and convenient payment infrastructure for travelers and small businesses, providing analytical data to track trends and develop strategies to promote Uzbekistan as a tourist destination, conducting joint research, and sharing best global practices.