Uzbekistan�s historic city of Samarkand was chosen as the 2023 World Tourism Capital at the 24th General Assembly of the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in Spain, Uzbekistan�s Tourism and Sports Ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

Samarkand will host the 25th General Assembly of the UNWTO, which will be a historic event as it marks the first time in history that the gathering will be held in Uzbekistan, read the statement.

The summit in Madrid was attended by a delegation led by Uzbekistan�s Tourism and Sports Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov, who is also the country�s deputy prime minister.

The opportunity to host a UN organization meeting for the first time is the result of the Uzbek government�s policies and efforts to develop tourism in the country, the statement added.