Uzbekistan and neighboring countries are planning a set of measures aimed at developing tourism across Central Asia, as to the Committee for Tourism of Uzbekistan.
Committee Chair Abdulla Aziz Akkulov met with Zulfiya Karimova, head of the CAREC program on grant support, cross-border tourism, and regional integration in Central Asia. The discussions focused on regional initiatives aimed at improving tourism connectivity.
The parties reviewed the “Central Asia Tourism Ring” initiative, which includes proposals to introduce a unified visa system for international visitors, develop joint tourism routes, and simplify border crossing procedures for tourists.
One of the proposals discussed was the establishment of dedicated border corridors for organized tourist groups at selected checkpoints. The plans also include increasing the number of international flights to strengthen connectivity with countries including the United States, Australia, and several countries in Latin America.
The meeting also addressed efforts to promote Uzbekistan’s tourism potential through a regional tourism platform under the Silk Road brand. Another area of focus was the creation of a joint regional pavilion for Central Asian countries at international tourism exhibitions, including FITUR in Madrid.
Following the discussions, the sides agreed to expand several border crossing points in the Tashkent and Fergana regions as part of a pilot project. Cooperation between the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program and the Silk Road thematic office in Samarkand is also expected to be expanded.
