Turkmenistan Showcases Its Tourism Strategy at “Turkmentravel – 2026”

From April 14 to 16, 2026, Ashgabat hosted the International Tourism Exhibition and Conference “Turkmentravel – 2026”, a major event reflecting Turkmenistan’s ambition to position itself as an emerging destination at the crossroads of culture, history, and sustainable tourism. The forum gathered representatives of government institutions, international organizations, tourism professionals, investors, academics, and private‑sector actors from across Europe, Asia, and the wider region.

Opening Ceremony and Official Addresses

The exhibition and conference officially opened on April 14, 2026, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Turkmenistan, with a ceremonial session underscoring the growing importance of tourism diplomacy.

The greetings address of the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was delivered to participants, officially inaugurating the event and setting the tone for international cooperation in the tourism sector.

The opening session was attended by high‑level representatives of the Turkmen government and foreign delegations, emphasizing tourism as a strategic pillar of economic diversification.

High-level Conference

International participation

The conference also served as a platform for regional cooperation, featuring speakers from neighboring countries and international institutions, including:

- Nadir Alpaslan, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye;
- Erdenet Kasymov, Deputy Director of the State Agency for Tourism Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic;
- Kanan Firdovski oglu Aliyev, Head of the Office of the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan;
- Muhammetdurdy Mamedov, Head of the National Directorate of Turkmenistan for the Protection, Study and Restoration of Historical and Cultural Monuments;
- Geoffrey Serembe, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Uganda;
- Cordula Wolfmutther (Regional Director for Europe at the UN World Tourism Organization – UN Tourism);
- Sylapberdi Nurberdiyev, Deputy Secretary‑General of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO);
- Dilmurod Nasimov, Vice‑Rector of the International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage “Silk Road” of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
- Abdullah Kutalmis Yalçın, Adviser to the Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye and Special Representative of TURKSOY;
- Leonid Stepanov, Head of the project “Alice Public Association” of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

These interventions emphasized cross‑border tourism routes, Silk Road heritage, and institutional cooperation.

Throughout the conference, a wide range of keynote speeches and expert interventions highlighted global best practices and national experiences in tourism development.

Among the featured speakers were:

Jemile Gurbanova, Head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Department;
Aknýyaz Agamyradov, Head of the Tourism Directorate of the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan;
Bahar Atayeva, Senior Lecturer at the Turkmen State Institute of Culture;
Gurban Gurbanov, Head of Aziyanyn Merjeni tourism company;
Atageldi Shamyradov, Minister of Culture of Turkmenistan.

The discussions focused on preserving cultural heritage while modernizing tourism infrastructure and services.

Investment and Innovation in Tourism

A dedicated session on “Opportunities and mechanisms for attracting investment and capital to the tourism industry”, moderated by Maral Seytiniyazova, addressed private‑sector engagement and innovation.

Speakers included:

Abdulkadyr Aliyev, Head of the Alliance of Tourist Destinations of the Kyrgyz Republic;
Jennet Garlyyeva, Founder of the “Mirasly Senet” public organization;
Brendan Sobie, Founder of Sobie Aviation and international expert of the CAREC Programme on aviation and tourism;
Maral Seytiniyazova, Founder of ProSinergiya Consulting Enterprise and business consultant on strategic management.

The session highlighted aviation connectivity, investment frameworks, and public‑private partnerships.

Tourism Management

The program also included a seminar on tourism management, organized by UN Tourism, held at the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, reflecting the growing importance of professional training and institutional capacity‑building.

A roundtable of international participants resulted in the signing of cooperation documents between tourism enterprises, marking concrete outcomes of the event. There was also an Exhibition with an international participation from Uganda to Malysia, passing by Pakistan and Turkiye.

Cultural Discovery of Ashgabat region

Beyond conference halls, delegates took part in a sightseeing tour of Ashgabat, visiting:

- the Magtymguly Pyragy Cultural and Park Complex,
- and the ancient Old Nisa Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The program also featured equestrian games of the Galkynysh National Horse Group at the State Circus of Turkmenistan, showcasing Turkmenistan’s rich intangible heritage.

Closing Ceremony

The exhibition concluded on April 16, 2026, with a closing ceremony at the Turkmen State Institute of Culture, during which:

diplomas were awarded to participants;
and the final address of the participants of “Turkmentravel – 2026” was formally adopted and addressed to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. They were also different key speakers such as Derya Soysal, Sahra Amanova from Esretli Syyahat).

Conclusion

Through Turkmentravel – 2026, Turkmenistan presented a comprehensive vision of tourism as a driver of cultural diplomacy, economic growth, and international cooperation. By combining policy dialogue, investment discussions, cultural showcases, and education‑focused sessions, the event demonstrated the country’s commitment to developing a modern, sustainable, and internationally connected tourism sector.

With strong government support and growing engagement from international partners, Turkmenistan is positioning itself not only as a destination of ancient heritage, but also as an active contributor to regional and global tourism networks.