Q: When you first arrived in Uzbekistan, what surprised, struck you most?
A: I had already been to Central Asia ample times and therefore knew what to expect.

Q: What are key words you use to describe Uzbekistan to family and friends back home and around the world?
A: The climate. The fact that it's mostly warm and sunny is pleasant for us, of course. Then the cultural heritage, the history of Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Nukus. Foremost, I mention though the warm hospitality, which in Uzbekistan is even more pronounced than elsewhere in Central Asia. The people of Uzbekistan are extremely welcoming and generous.I believe that among people of the deserts, there is an obligation to be hospitable towards foreigners and strangers and this makes for a wonderful travel experience.
Over the years I have had a number of personal guests visiting, who would have other wise never come to this area. Samarkand and Bukhara were familiar names but the notion of traveling there would have never crossed their mind. They all were very positively surprised and Had a unique and unforgettable stay, to a large extend due to the hospitality extended by the people here.

Q: Where do you take your guests out in Tashkent?
A: We have now more European style restaurants, such as Bistro or Caravan Art Cafe, which I frequently take visitors to, and also some Chinese and Indian venues. For a typical Uzbek meal, there's a whole row of small Chai Khanas, garden restaurants, often with only 5 to 8 tables in the neighborhood of the train station. They serve genuin national lunch or dinner in a typical Central Asian environment. We even held office parties there.
Unique to Central Asia, and not to be missed out on, are the House Museums, the Dom Muzeiy. They give visitors a good insight and understanding about the diversity and history of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.

Q: As for souvenirs, what do you bring back home?
A: Ferghana Ceramics and silks, then also suzanis and for more elaborate gifts, carpets of course. I believe the export potential of these crafts is no yet fully realized. More could be done in this area.

Q: What is your idea of perfect happiness in Uzbekistan?
A: I love the mountain area, for example around Chimgan and I would say taking a stroll through the ancient city of Khiva, where you get a sense of the past, definitely qualifies. To a lesser extend, the same applies to the Registan ensemble in Samarkand

Q: What advise would you give small and medium enterprises in tourism in Uzbekistan?
A: Put more pressure on the government. Given the difficulties to do business here, the SMl's are doing an incredible job. But the government needs to relax its control, To get a visa is still a hell of a problem; even for members of my immediate family, on a private visit, it takes 6 to 8 weeks to obtain a visa. This is absurd. The government needs to ease visa restrictions.
SlWs, the private sector, need a more business friendly environment an greater freedom to organize services such as transportation, for example. Uzbek tourism should get out of the tourism services business altogether and take on the role of the major advertisement firm to promoting Uzbekistan, the travel destination. Tourism is a no risk area, from which all could benefit. That the government needs to hold control over cotton or gas is clear buti I see no reason why the government should be involved in tourism to the extend this is happening today in Uzbekistan.

Q: What are some of the causes you support here in Uzbekistan?
A: Music and Art are my personal interests and I am able to pursue both here, Through the situation in Karakalpakstan and the many projects there, involving frequent traveling to Nukus, I became for example aware of the I.V, Savitsky Karakalpakstan State Museum, 18 months ago, together with a group of like minded, we founded an NGO, the Friends of Nukus Museum. We now have 80 individual members and 6 corporate members and we like to feel we helped bring the collection of folk art and Russian avant guard art in Nukus to the attention of a broader audience. Also, through our involvement, recently, the new Museum building, under construction since 1986, was completed and the collection shifted to this appropriate location, We are hoping to encourage tour operators to ad one day to their tours to drive to Nukus from Khiva, which is only a two and a half hours drive, There is also plenty to see on the way and Nukus now features a number of restaurants, so the trip is well worth it.