In recent years, Uzbekistan has focused on the full and effective use of the potential of the regions, the cardinal improvement of the tourism industry, and the development of entrepreneurship.

Navoi region also creates broad conditions for the development of pilgrimage, gastronomic, ecological, and other types of tourism and recreation, increasing the territory’s attractiveness to tourists. As a result, the number of tourists visiting the region is increasing from year to year.

During the visit of the Head of state to the region, responsible officials were instructed to attract 500,000 foreign tourists to Navoi and increase the export of services to $150 million. The need to increase trade and services was noted.

In 2024, 420.2 thousand foreign and 2 million 485,000 local tourists visited the region. Compared to 2017, this indicator has increased 22 times. The volume of exports of tourism products reached $105 million.

“Last year, 24 investment projects worth 300 billion UZS were implemented in the region”, says Komiljon Normamatov, a specialist in the regional tourism department. “37 projects are planned to be implemented this year. Ten projects are located along the international highway M-37, passing through the territory of the region. Four hotels with a total cost of 200 billion UZS will be put into operation in Karmana district. About 100 jobs will be created. In addition, additional facilities are being built to attract more tourists. In particular, it is planned to create a modern eco-park near the sites included in the UNESCO List. The project will be launched before the end of the year and will involve enterprises with international brands, envisages the construction of shopping malls, new gastronomic tourism facilities, and hotels”.

More than 10 service facilities and shopping centers for gastronomic tourism will be launched in Qiziltepa district. It is also planned to build recreation areas of light construction along the river, where they will work in a cluster format and will be able to serve over 200 tourists at a time. One facility will include a hotel, a recreation area, a restaurant, tour operator services, and transportation services.

Currently, 75 travel companies are operating in the region. Separate tourist routes have been created for traveling by transport and on foot along the Navoi tourist ring, which includes 14 tourist routes with 60 objects with a length of 340 km, covering Khatirchi, Nurata, Navbakhor, Karmana, and Qiziltepa districts.

Due to the effective use of the thermal springs’ potential located in Khatirchi district’s Oltinsoy mahalla, a sanatorium with a total project cost of 15 billion UZS and a hostel with a project cost of 6 billion UZS has been launched.

On the shore of Lake Aydarkul, Qizilqum Safari LLC has organized a camp with yurts for 500 people. A tourist cluster has been created, including horseback and camel rides, two restaurants, and shopping malls.

“The tourist cluster includes a hotel, a catering center, two types of transport services, guide services, a camp for 46 yurts, and a beach that can accommodate 500 tourists at the same time”, says Hilola Khudoyberdiyeva, chief specialist of the regional tourism department. “The Caravanserai project will also be implemented along the international highway M-37, which runs through the territory of Qiziltepa district. This $4 million project, initiated by Navoi Tears Invest LLC, involves the construction of restaurants, shops, a gas station, and charging stations for electric vehicles, a hotel, and entertainment facilities. A car dealership, car service for trucks and cars, parking, yurts, a lake, a children's playground, a stable, and a camel barn will be built”.

The Zarafshan Managed by Dedeman, is designed for 100 people and receives about 20 thousand tourists annually. Tourists from Arab countries, Türkiye, China, the USA, and European countries, as well as from Russia and the CIS countries, regularly come here.

If, in 2017, the average length of tourists staying in the region was one day, then over the past seven years, tourists have stayed there for three or more days due to the created conditions and opportunities.

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Abduvali Buriyev, photos by Siroj Aslonov, UzA