East Java strengthens cultural and religious tourism cooperation with Uzbekistan
The East Java Provincial Government is strengthening bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan in the cultural and religious tourism sectors to promote connectivity, pilgrimage, and cultural exchanges.
This strengthening of cooperation was marked by a visit from the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Indonesia, Oybek Eshonov, the Governor of Samarkand Adiz Boboev, and the Deputy Governor of Samarkand Rustam Kobilov to the Negara Grahadi State Building in Surabaya.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa, in a statement in Surabaya on Sunday, said the meeting was also attended by religious scholars and academics from both sides.
“The Uzbek delegation attended in full, including the imam of Imam Bukhari Mosque and academics. We also invited religious scholars from various Islamic boarding schools in East Java,” she said.
According to her, this relationship can serve as a foundation for developing religious tourism, including the potential for pilgrimages to Imam Bukhari’s tomb in Uzbekistan.
“This has the potential to become a new attraction for the people of East Java for religious tourism,” she stated.
She added that historical connections can also be traced through figures who spread Islam in the Nusantara, such as Sunan Giri and Maulana Malik Ibrahim, who have ties to the Samarkand region.
In addition, her side is also encouraging the strengthening of transportation connectivity, including opportunities to open direct flights from Indonesia to Samarkand or Tashkent.
“This strengthening of connectivity is expected to further strengthen relations between the people, especially in the development of religious tourism and cultural exchanges,” she said.
Meanwhile, Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev welcomed the cooperation and hopes that relations between Samarkand and East Java continue to develop.
“We want to develop cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, and welfare together with East Java,” he said.
He also invited the people of East Java to visit and make pilgrimages to Uzbekistan.