Get to know the changemakers of tourism's sustainable future! In the online respect_NFI conversation cycle we will embark on a journey around the world and feature outstanding tourism professionals who are putting their visions and ideas for a fair and sustainable tourism into practice.

Our next stop is Uzbekistan. We travel to the Nuratau Range with mountains over 2,000 meters, located north of Sarmakand and visit the community-based-tourism project “Nuratau”, which was initiated by local enthusiasts and guarantees travellers authentic experiences.  
 
Over 1.1 billion people worldwide live in mountainous regions and, apart from agriculture and forestry, tourism is often the only economic factor. Founded in 2008, the project focuses on the development of tourism packages that are associated with the needs and traditions of the local population. 
 
In addition to overnight stays in over 10 picturesquely situated family guesthouses in several villages, hiking tours, horse riding tours, adventure tours and cultural tours are offered. 
 
We have a talk with the director Sherzod Norbekov and Claudia Mitteneder from “Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung” (Institute for Tourism and Development). The German organization focuses on information and education work related to tourism and development. Every year at the ITB Berlin, one of the most important tourism trade fairs in the world, they present the TO-DO-Award, which honors sustainable tourism projects worldwide. 
 
On this evening, we will discuss what community-based tourism projects are and why they are a win-win situation for locals and travellers. We will talk about long-lasting experiences, qualitative instead of quantitative growth and the challenges in the beautiful but sparse mountain region.
 
2nd of April 2025, 18:00 – 19:00 CET
On Zoom; language: English
Registration: anna.kodek@respect.at 
(You will receive the Zoom link after the registration.)