Uzbekistan will introduce a 30-day visa-free regime for citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman starting June 1, in a move aimed at boosting tourism and strengthening ties with Gulf countries.
The initiative comes as part of a broader strategy outlined in the presidential decree on measures to increase the role and importance of tourism in the economy through a sharp increase in the flow of tourists and a rapid expansion of the scope of tourist services in 2025–2026.
Under the new plan, Uzbekistan aims to:
- Attract 15.8mn foreign tourists to regional destinations by the end of 2025;
- Increase tourism service exports to $4bn;
- Promote domestic travel among 40mn local tourists;
- Launch an additional 378 tour operators to expand service availability.
To support these goals, regional tourism development programs will be prepared annually by November 30, starting in 2025. Additionally, Uzbekistan will host International Tourism Week each year in the third week of November.
A new initiative, “Travel around Uzbekistan!”, will also be launched in June 2025. As part of this, the second Saturday and Sunday of each month will be designated as “Family and Team Travel Day” to encourage domestic exploration.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized this effort during a recent videoconference, noting a significant rise in domestic tourism—from 5mn travelers in 2017 to 23mn in recent years. However, he acknowledged that many families have yet to visit iconic cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shakhrisabz.
Earlier it was reported that Uzbekistan and China will also implement a mutual 30-day visa-free regime beginning June 1, enabling greater mobility and tourism between the two countries.
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