Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and Central Asia’s largest city, has been included in the list of “The Best Places to Go in Asia in 2026” by the international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. According to the magazine, “Tashkent has reinvented itself time and again—shaped first by Silk Road merchants, then by Arab dynasties and later Russian
Starting January 1, 2026, citizens of the United States of America will be able to enter Uzbekistan without a visa for a period of up to 30 days. This measure is established by Presidential Decree of November 3, 2025, aimed at further strengthening Uzbek–American relations and creating favorable conditions for the development of cooperation in
Uzbekistan is enhancing its presence in the European tourism market. The country’s Tourism Committee has launched a joint project with the German media company FVW Medien GmbH aimed to showcase the country’s beauty, culture, and hospitality to a wide audience of travelers from Germany and other European countries. As part of the campaign, there will
In September 2025, the new season of the world-famous travel television show “The Amazing Race Australia” premiered on Australia’s Network 10 and the streaming platform 10 Play. One of the central highlights of the season was filming in Uzbekistan — primarily in Samarkand — where the competition tasks were designed around the country’s rich local
On October 2 in Astana, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan hosted the jubilee award ceremony for the winners of the 10th Annual International Contest “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media”. This year, by decision of the jury, the works of journalists from Armenia, Belgium, Pakistan, the United States, and Uzbekistan were recognized
In the vibrant tapestry of global tourism, Umedjon Saidov, National Expert in Tourism Development and General Director of Somon Travel LLC, shines brightly by unveiling Tajikistan’s hidden treasures. From scholar of international relations to orchestrator of the Dushanbe International Tourism Exhibition (DITE-2025), held September 18–20, he blends cultural reverence with strategic brilliance, elevating sites from
As tourism in Kyrgyzstan is becoming a driver of inclusive growth, women’s empowerment, and sustainable development, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) provides comprehensive support to the tourism industry. The regional project “Aid for Trade in Central Asia,” funded by the Government of Finland, demonstrates that a system approach to tourism development can transform local
In 2024, the United States of America welcomed 72.39 million tourists, ranking third in the world for attendance. This data is cited in the article “Top 10 Most Visited Countries in the World in 2024” on the Welcome Times website. However, there is no precise information available about the number of tourists from Central Asian
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan has announced the winners of the 10th anniversary contest “Kazakhstan Through the Eyes of Foreign Media,” which is traditionally held for international journalists. The jury has selected the following winners: Digitalization – Mohammed Ali Pasha (Pakistan) – “Role of Astana Hub and Digital Transformation of Kazakhstan”; Economy – Derya
In recent years, there has been growing interest among travelers in discovering new destinations and exploring off-the-beaten-path locations. To diversify tourism offerings and increase the duration of tourist stays, a new program entitled “The Fergana–Batken Tourist Ring” has been developed under the “Journey to the Enclaves” initiative. The route includes attractions in both Uzbekistan and
Kazakhstan’s Turkistan region has become the starting point for the filming of an international music show “Voice Beyond Horizon,” with world-renowned singer Dimash Qudaibergen serving as executive producer. The project brings together performers from China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Italy, Malaysia, and Serbia. Participants arrived in the city of Turkistan by train and will visit several of
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
