By the end of January-September, Uzbekistan ranked among the top seven countries in terms of growth in inbound international tourism.

The number of tourists visiting the country increased by 73 percent compared to 2019 levels, reflecting the consistent strengthening of Uzbekistan’s position as a global tourist destination.

According to the National Statistics Committee, the number of tourists arriving in Uzbekistan exceeded 10 million for the first time over the past 11 months.

The growth in tourist flows is linked to the easing of visa requirements, improved transport accessibility, and an active international marketing policy. The number of hotels, tourism companies, and professionals in the tourism sector has increased significantly, strengthening infrastructure and enhancing the country’s competitiveness in the global tourism market.

Alongside traditional historical centers – Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva – ecotourism and gastronomic tourism are gaining increasing popularity. The growing number of tourists from non-regional markets indicates that Uzbekistan is moving beyond a purely regional destination and strengthening its position in global tourism. These achievements create favorable prospects for the development of the tourism sector in line with international trends outlined in the World Tourism Barometer.

In January-October, 362.8 thousand foreign nationals visited Uzbekistan for business purposes. Compared with the same period last year, this figure increased by 229.7 thousand people, representing a 2.7-fold increase. There are 17,900 enterprises with foreign investment operating in the country, with the largest share of foreign enterprises concentrated in the trade sector.

It should also be noted that gastronomic tourism in Uzbekistan is increasingly popular among travelers seeking to explore the country’s rich culinary heritage. In addition, tourists often visit to see relatives. Other purposes of travel include business trips, tourism, business activities, education, and medical treatment.

Significant measures are being taken in Uzbekistan to develop the healthcare system, digitalize the sector, and ensure transparency and cost efficiency for the state. As a result, the prestige of the healthcare system has increased, and it is becoming increasingly attractive not only within Central Asia, but also globally.

The number of outbound trips by Uzbek citizens has also increased. In January-November, 2.7 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan visited Japan for tourism purposes. The purposes of these trips included tourism, visiting relatives, education, business trips, and medical treatment. Nearly 30,000 Japanese citizens visited Uzbekistan for tourism.

A total of 22.3 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan traveled to Thailand for tourism purposes, more than 230 thousand visited Türkiye, and over 237 thousand traveled to Saudi Arabia.

The measures being implemented to develop the country's tourism sector, as well as the analysis of prospects, will contribute to its advancement. Implementing the objectives outlined for tourism development will increase household incomes, create new jobs, and ensure population well-being.

Gulnoza Boboyeva, UzA