TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The East Java Provincial Government is strengthening bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan in the cultural and religious tourism sectors to encourage connectivity, pilgrimages, and cultural exchange, Antara reported.
The strengthening of cooperation was marked by a visit to the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya by Uzbekistan's Ambassador to Indonesia, Oybek Eshonov; Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev; and Samarkand Deputy Governor Rustam Kobilov.
In a statement in Surabaya on Sunday, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa said the meeting was also attended by religious scholars and academics from both sides.
"The Uzbek delegation is in full attendance, including the imam of the Imam Bukhari Mosque and academics. We also invited religious scholars from various Islamic boarding schools in East Java," she said.
Khofifah emphasized the historical and spiritual closeness between East Java and Samarkand, particularly through their shared connection to notable Islamic scholars. She believes that this relationship could lay the groundwork for religious tourism, including pilgrimages to the tomb of Imam Bukhari in Uzbekistan.
"This has the potential to become a new attraction for the people of East Java for religious tourism," she said. She added that historical links can be traced through figures who spread Islam in the archipelago, such as Sunan Giri and Maulana Malik Ibrahim, who had ties to the Samarkand region.
As a concrete step, the East Java provincial government is collaborating with tourism industry players, including travel agents, to explore opportunities for working with the Samarkand provincial government. Additionally, his party is encouraging the improvement of transportation connectivity, including opening direct flights from Indonesia to Samarkand or Tashkent.
"This strengthening of connectivity is expected to strengthen inter-community relations, particularly in the development of religious tourism and cultural exchange," she said. Khofifah emphasized the importance of concrete follow-up to ensure the collaboration provides real benefits for both parties.
Meanwhile, Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev welcomed the cooperation and expressed hope that the relationship between Samarkand and East Java would continue to grow. "We want to develop cooperation in the fields of economics, tourism, and welfare together in East Java," he said. He also invited people from East Java to visit Uzbekistan and make a pilgrimage there.
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