In recent years, the policy of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has been aimed at developing the tourism sector as one of the key drivers of the country’s economy. As part of ongoing reforms, visa procedures have been simplified, visa-free regimes have been expanded for citizens of many countries, transport and hotel infrastructure is being modernized, and Uzbekistan’s tourism brand is being actively promoted on the international stage. Special attention is also being given to the development of domestic tourism, the creation of new travel routes, and the improvement of service quality.
According to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, these measures have led to a significant increase in tourist flow to the country. In January and February 2026, nearly 1.77 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan. Compared to the same period last year, the number of visitors increased by 441,000 people, representing a growth of 33%.
The main flow of tourists is traditionally provided by neighboring countries. Kyrgyzstan ranked first in the number of visits, with more than 521,000 people, followed by Tajikistan (469,000) and Kazakhstan (386,000).
The top ten countries by number of tourists also included Russia (123,000), Afghanistan (83,000), Turkmenistan (51,000), China (49,000), Turkey (24,000), India (9,000), and South Korea (5,000).
