In a historic first, Israeli Minister of Tourism, Haim Katz, has visited Tajikistan, marking the first official ministerial visit to the Central Asian Muslim-majority nation. The visit culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with his Tajik counterpart, Jumakhonzoda Jamshed Jurakhon, a significant step that aims to strengthen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in the tourism sector.

This agreement is a major milestone in Israel-Tajikistan relations, which have been developing through regular political consultations since 2013. While the countries have previously collaborated on areas like agriculture and rural development, this marks the first economic and tourism-specific MoU.

During his visit, Minister Katz participated in the UN Tourism Investment Forum in Dushanbe. An Israeli delegation, led by Katz, presented Israel’s successful model for encouraging tourism investment, which includes incentives for entrepreneurs, support for projects in developing regions, partnerships with local authorities, and the promotion of sustainable tourism.

Katz highlighted the importance of tourism as a “bridge between peoples” that creates unique opportunities for international cooperation, even during challenging times. His presence at the forum underscored Israel’s ability to turn challenges into opportunities and showcase its proven expertise in innovative tourism development—knowledge that is highly sought after by other nations.

The Tajik minister welcomed Minister Katz’s visit, expressing optimism that the new MoU will provide an opportunity to expand knowledge and promote tourism investment in Tajikistan. The visit also included meetings with officials from Montenegro and Uzbekistan, signaling a broader effort to expand tourism partnerships across the region.