1. May Tourism Surpasses 1.1 Million Foreign Visitors In May 2025, Uzbekistan celebrated a new milestone: over 1.1 million international tourists visited the country—a fresh national record, building on the previous milestone of 1 million in April. This surge reflects Uzbekistan’s comprehensive efforts in visa reforms, transit infrastructure, and enhanced tourism services.
2. Strategic Reforms Fuel Continued Growth Umid Shadiyev, the chairman of the Tourism Committee, highlighted that tourism has become a key driver of economic growth. In 2024, tourism service exports jumped 1.6‑fold, reaching approximately $3.5 billion, while more than 2,000 new tourism businesses opened. Investments have amounted to around $6.5 billion over eight years, with 130,000 new hotel beds and a UN-backed tourist card system enhancing visitor experience
3. Domestic Connectivity Boosts Accessibility Uzbekistan is strengthening regional connections by expanding domestic flight routes. Starting in late June, carriers like Centrum Air are introducing new services—Samarkand‑Urgench three times a week, plus twice-weekly Bukhara–Urgench, Samarkand–Bukhara, and Bukhara–Tashkent flights. These additions improve tourist access to heritage-rich cities and natural attractions.
4. Ambitious 2025–26 Growth Plan Under Presidential Decree No. PD-87, Uzbekistan aims to host 15.8 million foreign tourists by year-end and grow tourism export revenues to $4 billion. Visas are being liberalized, with 30‑day visa‑free entry extended to citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and potentially the US and Vietnam. The strategy also includes infrastructure support for modular hotels and medical tourism staff training.