“Salam, Osh!” Festival Ignites Central Asian Unity for Sustainable Tourism

The Osh region, where ancient trade routes, languages, and cultures have long intertwined, is home to the sacred Sulaiman-Too Mountain and the 3,000-year-old city of Osh, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Blessed with the natural beauty of the Pamir-Alai Range, the region holds vast potential for cultural and eco-tourism, serving today as a bridge between diversity, economic growth, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The festival, organized with partners including the Osh City Hall, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and the Agency for Environmental Protection and Forestry, featured the international exhibition-forum “In the Footsteps of Nomads.”  Participants from Kazakhstan, China, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan showcased crafts, cuisine and culture, while discussions focused on new eco-routes and the rich tourism potential of southern Kyrgyzstan.

In her speech, Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative, noted the successful cooperation under the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF): "Thanks to joint efforts, the investment climate was strengthened through the Business Development Council, export sectors (honey, tourism, crafts) were supported, new jobs were created, especially for women and youth."

In addition, initiatives to protect the environment and sustainability were implemented - the Chon-Alai Nature Park was opened, the emergency response system was modernized. The Open Osh digital platform increased management transparency, and the women's creative laboratory became a new impetus for women's entrepreneurship.

The “Salam, Osh!” festival was supported by the UN Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) through the joint project implemented by UNDP, IOM and UNODC - “Strengthening Capacities of Institutions and Border Communities of Kyrgyzstan for Increased Cooperation with Uzbekistan.”