The UN tourism chief hailed the historic Silk Road as a potential major tourist destination, speaking in Uzbekistan at a meeting of officials from the region.

“Already Silk Road countries account for 30 per cent of international tourism arrivals and 20 per cent of international tourism receipts,” said Taleb Rifai, the secretary-general of the UN’s World Tourism Organisation.

The Silk Road is a network of routes which for centuries served as a vital cultural and trade link between the East and the West. The routes connect China, Southern Asia and Africa with European ports. With its richly diverse cultural assets spanning 12,000 kilometres and 24 countries, the ancient trading route could become one of the most internationally acclaimed travel destinations, Mr Rifai said.

“The 21st century may well end up being a century of travel revolution.”

Mr Rifai was addressing delegates from more than 20 countries who gathered in the ex-Soviet Central Asian state for the fifth UNWTO meeting on the Silk Road.

He was speaking inside the elaborately tiled 15th century Ulugbek Madrasah, or educational institution, in the ancient city of Samarkand, one of the Silk Route’s most popular sights.

While praising Uzbekistan’s unique cultural heritage, Mr Rifai listed problems that could hinder the development of tourism, including “visas, infrastructure (and) different political outlooks and interests”.

More than half a million tourists visited Uzbekistan last year and this year around 800,000 visitors are expected, said Uzbek deputy Prime Minister Elyor Ganiyev.

“We hope in the near future we will be able to accept 1.5 to two million tourists annually,” remarked Mr Ganiyev.