Between January and September 2025, Uzbekistan was ranked among the top seven destinations globally for inbound tourism growth. The headline number is striking: international arrivals increased by 73% compared to 2019.

This momentum is driven by three major factors: strong tourism investment, improved travel facilitation (including visa-free access for many markets), and consistent international promotion positioning Uzbekistan as a leading cultural destination in Central Asia.

The national target was to reach 10 million international tourists by the end of 2025. That goal has already been surpassed: Uzbekistan welcomed 10.7 million foreign visitors (up to November 2025), generating around €3.74 billion in tourism service exports.

Since April, the country has maintained a stable milestone of more than one million tourists per month. And it’s not just volume: the average length of stay has also increased, moving from 4–5 nights to 7, 8, and even 9 nights.

This is ideal for the classic Silk Road itinerary: Tashkent → Samarkand → Bukhara → Khiva.

In 2025, neighbouring countries continue to represent the largest share of inbound tourism to Uzbekistan. In absolute numbers, the leading source markets were:

• Kyrgyzstan: 2.8 million
• Kazakhstan: 2.3 million
• Tajikistan: 2.2 million

Among non-regional markets, the strongest contributors included:

• China: 217,700 visitors
• Türkiye: 148,100
• India: 66,100
• South Korea: 41,600

Long-haul markets remain smaller but show steady growth. The United States, for example, recorded 28,600 visitors between January and September 2025, a 22.4% year-on-year increase, driven mainly by leisure travel.

The momentum is not only international. From January to November 2025, Uzbekistan recorded 23.7 million domestic trips through the “Travel across Uzbekistan” programme.

To encourage family travel, the government designated the second weekend of every month as “Family and Community Travel Days”, helping spread tourism across regions and seasons.

If you prefer themed routes, you can combine cultural tourism, food & gastronomy, ecotourism or adventure travel.

The tourism boom is backed by solid numbers:

• €1.4 billion in tourism investment in 2025
• 421 projects implemented
• 16,100 new jobs created in tourism and related sectors
• 954 new accommodation facilities (hotels, family guesthouses, hostels, etc.)
• Total: 6,861 properties and around 184,000 beds
• 4,348 licensed tourism companies/agencies and 4,345 certified guides

High-end projects are also expanding, including international hotel brands and new tourism zones (mountain resorts and lakeside developments), raising service standards for travellers seeking a comfortable Uzbekistan Silk Road tour.

Uzbekistan strengthened its promotion across 21 countries and participated in 21 major international tourism fairs. The years 2024–2025 were also declared “Uzbekistan Tourism Years” in key markets such as Russia and China.

At the same time, the country is accelerating tourism digitalisation through a unified national platform (sayohat.uz), integrating services like bookings, tickets and digital tools for visitors. This makes it easier to travel between cities and plan routes efficiently.

For deeper historical context, we recommend: Uzbekistan and the Silk Road.

With record numbers and better connectivity, 2025 is a great moment to organise your trip to Uzbekistan. At The Silk Road Travel, we help you design a realistic itinerary: transport, hotels, certified guides and local experiences.

Most requested routes:

• Classic Silk Road: Tashkent – Samarkand – Bukhara – Khiva
• Fergana extension: add Fergana and Kokand
• Arts & heritage: museum-focused cultural tours
• Tastes of Uzbekistan: a food itinerary

Start here: Uzbekistan Travel Guide or contact us directly via contact.