The video conference held on April 9, 2025, became a pivotal moment for reassessing the essence of ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s tourism and investment sectors, evaluating their effectiveness, and identifying future directions. This meeting, held under the leadership of President Mirziyoyev, not only aimed to address sectoral challenges, but also formed an integral part of a comprehensive strategy to renew Uzbekistan’s economic model through the issues on the agenda.

Changes in the tourism sector are contributing to the revitalization of regional economies. By identifying areas with tourism potential and reimagining them through the lens of winter, wellness, extreme, or pilgrimage tourism, previously inactive territories are being integrated into the economic cycle. This approach is starting to address key socio-economic challenges such as increasing household incomes, strengthening infrastructure, and curbing internal migration.

Digital solutions like new tourism platforms, electronic visas, and unified tourist cards are improving service delivery and are also vital tools for enhancing transparency, accountability, and competition. This represents the recognition of tourism as a full-fledged sector within the national economic system, progressing in parallel with the digitalization of public services.

Domestic tourism activation plays a vital role in fostering social cohesion and national integration. Interregional travel strengthens cultural familiarity and shared national identity, making it not only an economic process but also a spiritual and cultural one.

At the same time, there is a growing effort to balance preserving cultural heritage and integrating it into the economic framework. This involves optimizing state resources, attracting private investment, and transforming historical sites into vibrant, functional spaces for the public. Turning heritage sites into revenue-generating assets marks a fundamentally new approach.

Furthermore, visits to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Kuwait, and France in 2025 resulted in agreements on 178 projects worth $39 billion. These developments in investment policy are propelling the country onto the global economic stage.

Uzbekistan plans to attract $42 billion in foreign investment this year alone. Each investment agreement represents not just capital inflow, but also the creation of jobs, the development of export products, the introduction of new technologies, and tangible social transformations in specific regions. It also signifies the internationalization of local projects, the adaptation of the financial system to global standards, and the formation of new value-added production chains.

Most importantly, these reforms are not confined to the central level – they aim to create “points of transformation” in every district and region. This fosters inclusive development nationwide, broadens civic participation in reforms, and turns progress into a national movement.

Uzbekistan is also transitioning to a new level of institutional quality through cooperation with international financial institutions. Currently, $20 billion worth of projects are being implemented in sectors such as energy, transport, agriculture, public utilities, and social services in partnership with global financial organizations.

Reforms in Uzbekistan are no longer merely tactical steps but represent a shift toward a new strategic paradigm. In this paradigm, regional balance, digitalization, integration into global markets, and the empowerment of civil society are central elements. This approach embodies a long-term vision to ensure stable, inclusive, and systemic growth in the country’s development.

Nilufar Doniyorkhodjayeva, 

Deputy Executive Director of the Development Strategy Center

UzA