Uzbekistan continues to experience a sharp rise in tourism, with 3.1mn foreign citizens visiting the country for tourism-related purposes between January and April 2025, according to the National Statistics Committee. This marks a 46.4% increase — or nearly 988,000 more visitors — compared to the same period last year, highlighting the country’s growing appeal as a destination in Central Asia.
Of the total visitors, the largest segment — over 2.1mn people — came to visit relatives, underscoring Uzbekistan’s strong diaspora and family connections across borders. In addition, 434,400 tourists visited for leisure, while 374,600 arrived for business purposes. Other reasons for visiting included 152,100 for commerce, 33,300 for medical treatment, and 7,900 for educational purposes.
The surge is part of a broader upward trend that began in early 2024. That year, Uzbekistan welcomed a total of 8.2mn foreign visitors. In the first two months of 2025 alone, 1.3mn tourists had already entered the country, indicating sustained momentum.
Monthly increases have been notable. By the end of May 2024, more than 2.8mn foreign citizens had visited for tourism purposes, including 10,600 from the United States. That number rose to over 3.5mn by the end of June and reached 5.7mn by October 1, 2024.
The country also saw a rise in visitors from the European Union. In January 2024 alone, 4,601 EU citizens visited Uzbekistan for tourism, suggesting growing interest from Western countries as well.
Uzbekistan’s growing popularity as a tourist destination has been accompanied by policy reforms aimed at enhancing the visitor experience. The country recently joined the World Tourism Organization’s International Code for the Protection of Tourists, signaling its commitment to upholding global standards and protecting the rights of travelers.
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