Just back from an extended stay in New York; the city generates so many good ideas and new impulses, some of which we will adapt to our part of the world, along The Great Silk Road. Memorable encounters, the Swiss Foreign Minister, Mme Calmy-Rey on official visit in NYC listened attentively to my brief overview over tourism development in Uzbekistan and may take the issue further; meeting Oscar de la Renta, who incorporates Uzbek ikat fabrics into his spring 2005 collection and is soon to visit Samarkand and Bukhara, tea with the Uzbek consul whose many colleagues are interested in traveling around Central Asia.

While away, a team of BBC was in Uzbekistan, on location in Samarkand and Bukhara for their series "in 80 treasures around the world". It was a phantastic challenge for me and my team to prepare their trip to the minutest detail and from what I hear, Dan Cruickshank was simply smitten with both cities. A team from Filmquadrat in Munich was on location in Boysun to shoot the first international documentary on Boysun for Bavarian Television, SW3 and Arte; I had accompanied Lisa Eder on location scouting back in May to the remotest villages in the Gissar Mountains, was that ever an adventurous trip.

In Tashkent we are getting ready for the Tashkent International Tourism Fair TITF and the opening of the representative office of the World Tourism Organisation in Samarkand preceded by a two day Tourism conference. I am also in a working group by UNESCO with the aim of putting ancient Khorezm on the map, the fascinating area between Khiva and the Aral Sea that has so much to offer to those in the know. And as ever, the AMCHAM, American Chamber of Commerce Tourism working group cooperates with relevant Uzbek ministries to up service and facilitate your stay in the country.

Most of all though Discovery Central Asia is thrilled to be participating in World Travel Market London courtesy of British Council Uzbekistan under its director Neville McBain who most generously sponsors our stand AS 51/25 in the North Hall. We are eternally grateful for this constructive support. Dr. Julia Neuberger, British Council board member, who visited Uzbekistan earlier this year and just loved it, will receive my personal heartfelt thanks at the stand. For even more wonderful news from Great Britain turn to page 30.

There are always two sides to a coin, you know that; there are those who will tell you: what? Are you crazy? You want to travel to Uzbekistan (and you can replace that with the word Kyrgyzstan) ? - and then there's reality. You could not pick a more unique, unspoilt destination with the most warmhearted and naturally friendly people, brimming bazaars, splendid monuments linked to historical facts of immense importance and an increasing number of small hotels/B&B's who will make your stay unforgettable. Absolutely.
Sincerely yours,