Michael Shamshidov is Founder of Central Asia Tourism Forum. 

Tourismolog, Tourism Development Consultant & Trainer. 

Michael Shamshidov brings over 25 years of hands-on experience in the tourism industry, having built pioneering platforms and strategies that have shaped the travel ecosystem across Central Asia. He is the founder of the expert brand Tourismolog (tourismolog.com), co-founder of the Central Asia Tourism Forum (samarkandforum.com), and previously led OrexCA.com, recognized as Central Asia’s first online tour operator.

As a consultant, trainer, and public speaker, Michael blends entrepreneurial practice with strategic insight. His work addresses three fundamental questions for tourism growth: How to unlock a destination’s potential? How to benefit from emerging opportunities? And how to tackle challenges from a national perspective?

He has collaborated with global institutions including the World Bank, ADB, UNWTO, USAID, and GIZ focusing on sustainable tourism development, destination marketing, digital transformation, and local capacity building.

A passionate advocate for turning ideas into action, Michael represents the practitioner’s voice at OBOROT2025. where practical implementation meets academic frameworks. His work is rooted in real-world conditions, yet always forward-looking: bridging grassroots experimentation with regional scalability.