The old and the new and the change from one to the other, this is my theme for spring and for ITB Berlin, the world's premiere tourism trade show, where not only this brand new edition of Discovery Central Asia with its new face will be distributed but where our Uzbekistan Special in German language will give the German speakers a chance to get a closer look at what Central Asia and specifically Uzbekistan are all about - with the aim of drawing these readers with our photos, our articles, to a world they had considered off limits.

A close look at all the many aspects in Central Asia that stay true to the old, if not to say the ancient and make Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan a destination or rather a micro cosmos in refreshing contrast to much of the standardized tourism fair that you get elsewhere in the world, that we offer.

The good news is, you will find more and much better hotels and restaurants of all types along the road you travel, better qualified staff, more refined interiors that reflect local culture all around Central Asia. New areas such as the Nuratau Biosphere reserve are opening to visitors, In Bukhara we hold our 7th annual Silk & Spice Festival. And the best news is, people in Central Asia are not changing too quickly, they manage remarkably well to stay true to themselves and their culture even though they too are part of what is called globalization. Ultimately, apart from the architectural wonders and various nature features, it is the people who make Central Asia one of the most fascinating destinations to visit.