Demand for travel from Uzbekistan to China nearly triples in the first year of the visa-free regime

One year after Uzbekistan and China implemented a visa-free regime, there has been a notable rise in interest among Uzbekistan residents in traveling to China. This trend is supported by data from a study conducted by analysts at Aviasales.uz.

The analysis compared data from two periods – before and after the visa-free regime took effect. Introduced on June 1, 2025, the arrangement allows citizens of both countries to stay in each other’s territory without a visa for up to 30 days. 

According to the study, searches for flights to China increased by 189%, while completed bookings rose by 367.2%. 

The strongest growth in interest was seen for tourist destinations. Searches for tickets to Shanghai increased by 319.9%, while searches for the resort city of Sanya rose by 386.2%.

At the same time, the average cost of flights to Chinese destinations fell by about 20%. The largest price cuts were recorded on flights to Sanya (30%), Beijing (26%), and Shanghai (25%). According to the study, the most affordable option during the period under review was a Tashkent – Shanghai ticket priced at $149.90. Analysts attribute this trend to the growing presence of Chinese airlines in the Uzbek market and an increase in scheduled flights. 

Another notable development was the decline in average trip duration, from 10 to 7.5 days. Meanwhile, Urumqi, which has long been a major destination for business and trade trips by entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan, showed the least change across most indicators. Before the introduction of the visa-free regime, trips to the city averaged about 10 days, compared with about 5.5 days now.

Interestingly, Urumqi recorded the smallest changes across most indicators. For many years, the city has remained a key trade and logistics hub for entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan who travel there to purchase goods. By contrast, Sanya showed the strongest growth in interest. The popular resort on Hainan Island attracts travelers with its combination of beach holidays and relatively affordable prices.

Overall, the study results indicate that since the introduction of the visa-free regime, travel to China has become increasingly popular not only for business but also for tourism and short-term holidays.

Aziza Alimova, UzA