Uzbekistan and Indonesia reach an agreement to enhance pilgrimage tourism collaboration
The Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Akkulov met with the Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia Mochamad Irfan Yusuf.
The parties discussed expanding tourist exchanges, developing pilgrimage tourism, launching direct air services, and strengthening cooperation between tour operators in the two countries.
To increase tourist flows, the parties considered launching Tashkent – Jakarta flights and establishing air connections with Uzbekistan’s historic cities.
The parties noted the possibility of applying the mechanisms proposed by the Head of State to subsidize new air routes. In addition, local tour operators bringing tourists from Indonesia are expected to receive a $100 subsidy per tourist.
Each year, over 2 million Indonesian citizens perform Hajj and Umrah. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s 1,200+ pilgrimage sites, linked to figures like Imam Bukhari, Imam Maturidi, Imam Termezi, and Bahauddin Naqshband, strongly appeal to Indonesian tourists.
The delegation visited pilgrimage sites in Samarkand and Bukhara. Subsequently, the parties reached agreements to promote these cities as pilgrimage tourism destinations in the Indonesian market, develop specialized tourist routes, and arrange B2B meetings with Hajj and Umrah operators.
A practical result of the collaboration was foreign investors’ involvement in opening the five-star Hadith Hotel as part of the Imam Bukhari Complex.
The introduction of direct air services, the “Umrah Plus” program, collaboration among tour operators, and improvements in pilgrimage tourism infrastructure are expected to strengthen Uzbekistan’s position in the Indonesian tourism sector and increase reciprocal tourist flows.
Aziza Alimova, UzA
