Between January and May 2024, 2.2mn citizens of Uzbekistan traveled abroad for tourism purposes, as per the Statistics Agency. This figure marks an increase of 569,200 people, or 35.5%, compared to the corresponding period last year.
Popular Destinations
During the first five months of 2024, Uzbek tourists traveled to various destinations, with the highest numbers visiting the Kyrgyz Republic at 995,300 visitors, followed by Tajikistan with 449,800 visitors and Kazakhstan with 322,500 visitors.
Significant numbers also traveled to Saudi Arabia (100,200 visitors), Russia (86,500 visitors), Türkiye (63,900 visitors), UAE (55,700 visitors), Kuwait (16,500 visitors), Egypt (13,500 visitors), and South Korea (8,300 visitors). Additionally, 59,500 visitors chose other countries as their destinations.
Earlier it was reported that in 1Q24 alone, approximately 1.3mn Uzbek citizens traveled abroad for tourism, marking a substantial 40.7% increase compared to the same period last year.
Uzbekistan's Tourism Goals
Uzbekistan has set goals to attract 10mn tourists annually. The president of Uzbekistan has launched a global campaign to boost the nation's tourism sector. This includes a contest to create content for the "national tourism brand" and promote it on international platforms by October 1.
To support this initiative, $5mn has been allocated for the year. The plan also includes organizing info-tours for at least 50 foreign bloggers, each with an audience exceeding 10mn, to increase Uzbekistan's visibility among global audiences.
A key focus of the promotion strategy is culinary tourism. International gastronomic festivals will be held in Tashkent this year and in Khiva next year, showcasing Uzbekistan's cuisine with over 300 types of dishes.
To facilitate tourist visits, official ministries and agencies have been directed to improve the electronic visa system and launch a mobile application, streamlining the process for international travelers.
The president has set a target of attracting 11mn foreign tourists and increasing tourism exports to $2.5bn this year, with sector leaders and regional authorities responsible for meeting these targets.
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