EN.malanginspirasi.com – The East Java Provincial Government (Pemprov Jatim) and Uzbekistan are deepening bilateral cooperation in culture and religious tourism. The initiative aims to boost people-to-people connectivity, facilitate pilgrimages, and enrich cultural exchanges by leveraging the strong historical and spiritual bonds between the two regions.
The partnership was highlighted during an official visit by Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia Oybek Eshonov, Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev, and Samarkand Deputy Governor Rustam Kobilov to the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya on Saturday evening, 4 April 2026.
East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa personally welcomed the delegation, joined by the imam of the Imam Bukhari Mosque, academics from Rhodes University, dozens of ulama from Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) across East Java, and tourism industry stakeholders.
Governor Khofifah emphasized the deep historical and spiritual connection between East Java and Samarkand.
“East Java and Samarkand share a strong and spiritually interconnected bond,” she said in a press statement in Surabaya on Sunday, 5 April 2026.
Imam Bukhari Tomb Set to Become New Pilgrimage Destination for East Java Muslims
She cited the global Islamic scholar Imam Bukhari, whose tomb in Uzbekistan now holds potential as a new pilgrimage destination for East Java residents.
Khofifah also pointed to the legacy of the Wali Songo (Nine Saints). Sunan Giri was the son of Maulana Ishaq, believed to originate from Samarkand, while Maulana Malik Ibrahim (Sunan Gresik) has historical ties to the region.
“These scholars studied the Sahih al-Bukhari hadith collection in pesantren. This creates a new gravitational pull for East Java communities to visit Imam Bukhari’s tomb,” she added.
The full Uzbek delegation, including religious and academic representatives, prompted East Java to invite pesantren ulama to strengthen scholarly dialogue.
Khofifah also engaged local travel agents to explore religious tourism packages and direct collaboration with the Samarkand provincial government.
“We brought in several East Java travel agents to gather initial information on possible partnerships,” she explained.
Samarkand Governor Adiz Boboev welcomed the initiative positively.
“We want to develop cooperation in economy, tourism, and shared prosperity with East Java,” he said, openly inviting East Java residents to visit and perform pilgrimages in Uzbekistan.
Discussions also covered enhanced transportation connectivity. Khofifah highlighted ongoing talks between the central government and the Uzbek Embassy for direct flights from Indonesia to Samarkand or Tashkent.
“Given current geopolitical dynamics, a direct flight to Samarkand is becoming more feasible,” she noted, referencing the large number of Qadiriyya wa Naqshbandiyya Sufi order communities in East Java with historical roots in Samarkand.
Sister Province
The visit is a concrete follow-up to the sister-province partnership between East Java and Samarkand, first explored in February 2026. Khofifah stressed the need for tangible outcomes that deliver mutual benefits, from cultural exchanges to increased tourist visits.
Through this effort, East Java aims to position religious tourism as a fresh attraction that not only enriches spiritual experiences but also creates new economic opportunities and people-to-people diplomacy.
The Uzbek delegation is scheduled to remain in East Java until 7 April 2026 for further activities, including possible pilgrimages to the tombs of the Wali Songo in Gresik and Jombang.
