From January to July 2026, 7.75 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan, a 22.6% increase compared to the same period last year. Tourist traffic increased steadily from 6.6 million in 2023 to 10 million in 2024 and 11.7 million in 2025, Daryo.uz reported.
This growth is supported by the expansion of international air travel: new flights to Tashkent opened from Shanghai, Seoul, Yerevan, and Abu Dhabi. Over the seven months, 705 new accommodation facilities with 22,300 beds were also opened in the country.
Tourism revenue reached almost $3.9 billion, an increase of 56%. Uzbekistan's airports handled 8.15 million passengers from January to June, a 16% increase compared to the previous year.
If current growth rates continue, Uzbekistan could reach 12.5-13 million foreign tourists by 2026, setting a new all-time high. Additional growth factors will include the expansion of direct air routes and increased hotel capacity.
Compared to its neighbors, Uzbekistan already has an advantage in absolute numbers of foreign visitors. Kazakhstan has a large aviation market and is actively developing business, nature, and transit tourism, while Kyrgyzstan has strong potential in mountain and ecotourism. However, Uzbekistan benefits from a combination of historical and cultural heritage, extensive tourism infrastructure, and rapidly expanding transport accessibility.
If investment in infrastructure, promotion, and air travel continues, Uzbekistan is capable of not only increasing tourist flow but also strengthening the role of tourism as one of the country's fastest-growing sources of export revenue.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
August 12, 2026