In the first six months of 2025, over 3.5mn Uzbek citizens traveled abroad for tourism purposes, marking a nearly 30% increase compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Committee.
Neighboring Central Asian countries remained the most popular destinations for Uzbek travelers. Kyrgyzstan topped the list, welcoming 1,527,303 Uzbek visitors. Kazakhstan followed with 664,669 travelers, while Tajikistan received 631,660.
Beyond the region, Russia attracted 230,412 Uzbeks, and Saudi Arabia saw a significant increase in arrivals, with 145,294 Uzbek visitors—many likely traveling for religious purposes.
Other frequently visited countries included Türkiye (102,000), the United Arab Emirates (72,729), Egypt (30,959), Thailand (16,671), and Vietnam (16,179). An additional 102,622 Uzbek citizens traveled to other destinations around the world.
In January and February 2025 alone, more than 1mn Uzbek citizens traveled abroad. The main reason for travel was visiting relatives, accounting for 795,461 people. Around 220,771 traveled for tourism, while 8,720 sought medical treatment. Another 5,191 left the country for educational purposes, and 2,018 were traveling for official duties.
Tourists are increasing in number
Uzbekistan has also seen steady growth in inbound tourism. Since the beginning of 2024, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country has risen sharply. In January 2024, 4,601 citizens from European Union countries visited Uzbekistan. Between January and March, a total of 1.52mn foreign tourists arrived.
By the end of May, the number had exceeded 2.8mn, including more than 10,000 visitors from the United States.
By the end of the first half of 2024, over 3.5mn foreign tourists had entered Uzbekistan, and the number reached 5.7mn by October.
In June 2024, at a recent videoconference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, officials discussed strategies to strengthen the tourism sector. A key issue raised was the absence of large, modern water parks, which are in high demand during the summer. To address this, officials were instructed to initiate new projects focused on building water parks and swimming pools.
The meeting also emphasized the need to improve the calendar of festivals across the country and revise requirements for organizing concerts with well-known foreign performers. Additionally, officials were instructed to work with neighboring countries to simplify border-crossing procedures for tourists.
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