Despite opposition from environmental activists, the government of Uzbekistan has approved the construction of the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan resort at the Charvak reservoir in the Tashkent region, granting the investor a land plot on a 25-year lease with an extremely low rental fee. The project, led by Azerbaijani developer Emin Agalarov, will include recreation areas, beaches,
Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced the launch on September 19 of a new season of its train tour, Jibek Joly (Silk Road) 5.0, connecting major cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. During the 6-day tour, passengers will travel along the route Almaty – Turkestan – Otrar – Samarkand – Bukhara –
Uzbekistan’s tourism targets are well known: President Mirziyoyev has repeatedly stated that he aims to attract 15 million international arrivals a year by 2030, which represents a more than 100% increase from 2023, reads the following article by Sophie Ibbotson, published in OCA Magazine: More valuable metrics for the economy, however, are the financial contribution
On July 2, Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism), visited the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) under the Ministry of Ecology of Uzbekistan. He was accompanied by Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change and Umid Shadiev, Chairman of the
Kyrgyzstan has proposed introducing a single visa-free regime for foreign tourists that will allow visitors to travel freely throughout all countries of Central Asia. The initiative was put forward by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov during his meeting with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon in March. Japarov said that Central Asian countries need to introduce a single
More than 120 passengers went on a trip on the tourist train Jibek Joly on April 30. The tourist train was organized by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the country’s national railway company, with the assistance of Uzbekistan Railways, the Tourism Committee and the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, and Kazakh Tourism. The trip allows tourists to
On May 1, a grand opening ceremony was held in Khiva for the Arda Khiva International Tourist Center. The new complex is home to 17 hotels and guesthouses, 9 restaurants, open-air and indoor aqua parks, a 3,000-seat amphitheater, 5 cinemas and concert halls, exhibition pavilions, 70 retail stores, 300 market stalls, 11 artisan houses, an
Kazakhstan continues to strengthen its position as an attractive destination for international visitors. In 2024, 15.3 million people visited Kazakhstan, marking a 66% increase from the previous year, according to the country’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The figure does not include those arriving for work or permanent residence. Of the total number of visitors,
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov last week met with the President of PGI Management Joan Viladomat to discuss cooperation in the development of ski tourism in the Almaty mountain cluster and modernization of its infrastructure to adapt to international standards. Joan Viladomat told about his company’s projects in a number of countries. Today the company
On April 6, the British holding Silk Road Media and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing the international tourism brand of this autonomous region in northwestern Uzbekistan. The signing ceremony was held as part of the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, emphasizing the importance of
On April 14, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a presentation of the master plan of the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan international tourist center. It was earlier reported that Azerbaijani businessman Emin Agalarov and several other large investment companies plan to build an international tourist center, Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, on the shore of the Charvak reservoir in
A presentation of the book “Why Kyrgyzstan?” was held in Seoul on March 25 with the assistance of the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Republic of Korea and the Secretariat of the Central Asia-Republic of Korea Forum. The book tells Korean readers about the beauty, culture and tourism potential of Kyrgyzstan. The event
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov has signed a Comprehensive Development Plan for the Shchuchinsk-Borovoye resort area for 2025–2029. The Shchuchinsk-Borovoye area (Burabay National Park) is one of the country’s most popular year-round resorts, located in the north of Kazakhstan, 250 kilometers north of the capital, Astana. Borovoye is the commonly used Russian name of the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) announced the launch of a new initiative aimed at strengthening the handicraft value chain in Kyrgyzstan as part of the Aid for Trade project. This project is designed to enhance the production and export potential of Kyrgyzstan’s traditional felt and leather products (handicrafts), which have growing demand in both foreign markets
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on February 18 hosted a briefing for representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in the country and the media to highlight the advantages of newly introduced visa categories: Neo Nomad Visa, Digital Nomad Visa, and Residence Visa. Deputy Foreign Minister Roman Vassilenko emphasized that the introduction of these
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of China have signed a memorandum facilitating trips of organized tourist groups from China to Kyrgyzstan. The document will contribute to the development of Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry, stimulating the country’s economic growth. According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce,
According to official statistics, the number of individuals who crossed the border of Kyrgyzstan in 2024 exceeded 16.9 million, including 2.5 million citizens of Kazakhstan — 120,000 more than in 2023. The figures were revealed by Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyyal
Azerbaijani businessman Emin Agalarov and several other large investment companies plan to build an international tourist center, Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, on the shore of the Charvak reservoir in Bostanlyk district of Tashkent region. On December 16, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a presentation of the project. Bostanlyk is one of the most attractive tourism places
After launching a four-day train tour in November connecting the cities of Almaty, Turkestan, and Tashkent, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s national railway company, has announced the launch of another train tour, “Jibek Joly (Silk Road) 2.0,” along the route Almaty-Turkestan-Tashkent-Samarkand-Shymkent-Almaty. The first train on this route will depart on January 2 and return to
Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said that a pilot tourist train, Jibek Joly (Silk Road), will depart on November 16 from Almaty on the route Almaty-Turkestan-Tashkent-Almaty. The duration of the tour will be 5 days — from November 16 to 20. A total of 115 tourists will go on the first trip,
