Uzbekistan ranked among the seven fastest-growing destinations worldwide for inbound tourism between January and September 2025, according to the latest analytical data released by the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism).
International tourist arrivals increased by 73 per cent compared to 2019 levels, highlighting the country’s rapid recovery and sustained momentum in the post-pandemic tourism landscape.
The Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan says that national targets for the year have been exceeded, and the position of the country in the global travel map has been strengthened.
According to Umid Shodiyev, head of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, the sector’s rapid growth is rooted in long-term state planning.
“Tourism is a core component of Uzbekistan’s national economic strategy and one of the priority sectors under the ‘Uzbekistan–2030’ development strategy. To support this goal, a visa-free regime has been introduced for citizens of nearly 100 countries.”
More than 10 million tourists
At the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan’s President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, set a clear objective for the sector: to attract 10 million tourists by the end of 2025.
According to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, that goal has already been surpassed as 10.7 million foreign tourists visited the country in 2025 up to November, generating approximately €3.74 billion in tourism service exports.
“This year, we reached a stable milestone: starting from April, Uzbekistan has welcomed more than one million tourists every single month. As a result, between January and October alone, total arrivals have already reached nearly 9.6 million,” Aziz Mirjalilov, head of marketing at Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, told Euronews.
“Importantly, it is not only the volume of visitors that is increasing, the length of stay is growing as well. While tourists previously spent an average of four to five nights per trip, this figure has now risen to seven, eight, and even nine nights.”
Neighbouring and regional markets continued to account for the largest share of inbound tourism to Uzbekistan in 2025, reinforcing the sector’s strong regional orientation. Compared with the same period in 2024, tourist arrivals from neighbouring and Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries increased by a factor of 1.1, while arrivals from non-CIS countries rose at a faster pace, increasing by 1.5 times year on year.
Neighbours choose Uzbekistan
In absolute terms, Central Asian neighbours dominated where tourists were coming from. Kyrgyzstan ranked first with 2.8 million visitors, followed by Kazakhstan with 2.3 million and Tajikistan with 2.2 million.
Among non-regional markets, China recorded 217,700 visitors, ahead of Türkiye with 148,100, India with 66,100 and South Korea with 41,600.
Long-haul markets remained comparatively small in volume but showed signs of sustained growth. The United States, in particular, recorded rising interest in Uzbekistan as a destination, with 28,600 US citizens visiting the country for tourism purposes between January and September 2025, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.4 per cent.
For US visitors, travel is overwhelmingly driven by the desire for leisure. Thousands arrive eager to explore new landscapes, experience local culture, or simply unwind, with leisure travellers numbering 23,600.
Business takes a smaller, yet significant share, as 2,400 travellers combine work with the opportunity to see the world.
Family ties draw 2,100 visitors, who make the journey to reconnect with relatives and share moments.
Education brings 395 individuals seeking knowledge and learning experiences, while trade motivates 111 travellers focused on commercial pursuits.
Growth for local tourism
Local tourism in Uzbekistan has also seen remarkable growth. Between January and November 2025, residents embarked on 23.7 million domestic trips as part of the “Travel across Uzbekistan” programme, reflecting a renewed enthusiasm for exploring the country’s diverse regions.
To further encourage family travel, the government designated the second weekend of every month as “Family and Community Travel Days,” giving households a dedicated opportunity to connect through shared experiences.
This surge in tourism has been accompanied by significant investments in infrastructure and employment.
The Tourism Committee reports that nearly 16,100 new jobs have been created in tourism and related sectors, while 954 new accommodation facilities—including hotels, family guesthouses, hostels, and other lodging options—have opened their doors. Across the country, the total number of accommodation facilities now stands at 6,861, offering some 184,000 beds to welcome travellers from near and far.
The number of licensed tourism companies and travel agencies rose to 4,348, while 4,345 certified tour guides are now operating across the country.
Promoting Uzbekistan as a tourist destination
Uzbekistan actively promoted its tourism potential in 21 countries, participating in 21 major international tourism exhibitions and fairs.
The years 2024–2025 were declared “Uzbekistan Tourism Years” in Russia and China, accompanied by more than 20 large-scale cultural and promotional events. As a result, tourist arrivals from China are expected to increase fivefold compared to 2023, while arrivals from Russia are projected to double.
Uzbekistan’s destinations have been gaining growing international recognition.
Several prominent global travel authorities have highlighted the country for its unique appeal, listing it among the top destinations to visit in 2025.
Bukhara has been celebrated as a must-see city, drawing attention for its rich history and vibrant cultural scene, including major art events that showcase contemporary creativity.
Khiva has earned praise for its exceptional heritage and picturesque streets, while Samarkand’s iconic Registan Square has been recognised as one of the most beautiful places in the world, captivating travellers and photographers alike.
Investment and major tourism projects
In 2025 alone, approximately €1.4 billion in tourism investments were implemented across 421 projects.
Major developments included new five-star hotels under international brands such as JW Marriott, Swissôtel, DoubleTree by Hilton and Azimut, as well as mountain resorts and lakeside tourism zones.
The Tourism Committee launched the National Unified Tourism Platform (sayohat.uz), integrating hotel bookings, ticket purchases, digital identification and tourism services into a single ecosystem.
Interactive tourist maps, digital travel cards, and cashless payment systems for artisans were also introduced, significantly improving the visitor experience.
Uzbekistan hosted over 120 international and national tourism events in 2025, including Tourism Week, international festivals, forums and sporting events.
Aziz Mirjalilov, head of marketing at Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, explained that the country “is actively implementing extensive marketing and PR campaigns to promote Uzbekistan’s rich tourism, cultural and historical potential.”
“This includes participation in major international tourism exhibitions, as well as hosting leading global media outlets. We also work closely with international and digital platforms, where information about Uzbekistan is regularly shared. Overall, we believe that Uzbekistan has earned its place among the top ten must-visit destinations in Asia.”
New tourism routes, trekking paths and cross-border tourism corridors were developed, further diversifying travel experiences across regions.
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