Uzbekistan hosts first World Influencers Congress

On August 23rd, the first World Influencers Congress (WIC) kicked off at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Tashkent. More than 70 top digital influencers from all over the world gathered in Uzbekistan’s capital to hold panel discussions such as: How to measure engagement with followers, as well as relationship with brands; The importance of diversity on travel media platforms; Destination marketing through influencers, among others.

 

 

“The reason why we are making this event is because the voice of each influencer gets amplified so much,” said Behruz Khamzaev, Adviser to the Chairman of the State Committee of Uzbekistan. “Everyone who has a gadget can tell the news these days, and it can be positive or negative. But it’s about embracing different cultures with a positive attitude. Those who embrace different cultures will always be ahead.”

 

 

The WIC is part of a wide initiative by the State Committee of Uzbekistan for Tourism Development to open up to the world and showcase all the natural, historic and cultural attractions that the country has to offer.

Uzbekistan has put in place a free-visa program for 77 countries, and the number will soon grow to 85. “We’ve received 6.4 million visitors this year. A five-fold increase from 2016,” said Aziz Abdukhaminov, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.

 

 

As part of the WIC, attendants were able to join the Oriental Express, a 4-day journey that would allow them to discover some of the most beautiful cities along the ancient Silk Route: Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.

Among the influencers were travel vloggers, photographers, Youtubers, beauty bloggers, some of whom have hundreds of thousands, even millions of followers.

“Together you have over 115 million followers, and your content is being viewed over 10 billion times. By being here, in front of you, I feel like I’m talking to the whole world,” said Mr. Abdukhaminov on opening day. “The World Influencers Congress has been made possible thanks to our President, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has embraced the policies of openness and friendship, freedom and creativity.”

On the day of the congress, one of the topics discussed during one of the panels discussions was: How to use one’s social media platform to do good and bring about change in society.

Makeup artist, Sadaf, whose Instagram accounts alone have more than 3 million followers, talked about the importance of empowering women through her social media platform. “Even though I love makeup — ever since I was a kid I was fascinated by it — sometimes I post pictures where I’m not wearing any makeup because I want women to feel happy in their own skin. That’s a very important message for me to convey,” she said.

 

 

Given the attention the WIC has generated, five countries have already shown interest in potentially hosting a next edition in the coming years.

“Every day millions of people discover new destinations, new products through social media,” said Saida Mirziyoyeva, Deputy Director of the Agency of Information and Mass Communication of Uzbekistan. “But there’s also social responsibility. And we want to stress that as well.”