A 36-hour professional development training course was successfully conducted at the Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage for assistants to the khokims of Mahalla Citizens' Assemblies in the mountainous and foothill areas of the Samarkand Region. The training programme was designed to enhance participants' knowledge and practical skills in the tourism sector, promote the effective use of the existing tourism potential of local communities, foster the development of new tourism destinations, and encourage greater involvement of local residents in tourism-related activities.