The Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

One of the key factors uniting Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan is their common historical and cultural foundation. Both nations have Turkic roots and have maintained close cultural and trade ties for centuries. During the time of the Great Silk Road, trade and pilgrimage routes connected Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Tashkent with Baku, Ganja, and Sheki. The similarities in Islamic culture, architecture, literature and folk art today now provide a strong basis for deepening tourism ties.

Uzbekistan is home to the legacy of great thinkers such as Abu Rayhan al-Biruni and Ibn Sina, while Azerbaijan preserves the heritage of Nizami Ganjavi, Khurshidbanu Natavan, and Mahsati Ganjavi, figures who made an invaluable contribution to world civilization. This shared cultural legacy is now being promoted through tourism and made accessible to a wider public.

In recent years, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan have established large-scale cooperation in the field of tourism. Between 2022 and 2024, numerous agreements on tourism and cultural exchange were signed. Within the framework of memoranda, cooperation programs, bilateral forums and roadshows, a wide range of initiatives have been implemented between the national tourism authorities of both countries.

A particularly important milestone was the increase in the number of direct flights between Tashkent and Baku from 2023, which led to a noticeable increase in tourist traffic. B2B meetings between tour operators from both countries were also organized, resulting in the development of mutual tourist routes. Significant progress has been made in areas such as pilgrimage tourism, ethnographic tourism and gastronomic tours.

In the fields of culture and the arts, joint projects are also being carried out to promote tourism. For example, events such as “Uzbekistan Week” and “Azerbaijan Culture Days” are held regularly in both countries. These programs feature performances by national music and dance ensembles, exhibitions of handicrafts, food festivals, and film screenings.

In addition, sister city relationships have been established between historic cities in the two countries. For example, Samarkand and Ganja have developed tourist routes that promote mutual travel. Such initiatives contribute to growing interest in each other's cultures and create an atmosphere of mutual understanding and friendship.

Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan also provide reciprocal support within international tourism organizations. Delegations from both countries jointly participate in events organized by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), actively promoting regional and global tourism initiatives.

Looking ahead, joint projects are planned, including the development of combined tourism packages and the creation of shared digital tourism platforms. Additionally, the two countries are working on partnership initiatives to promote tourism through international films and documentary projects.

To strengthen the promotion of tourism brands in the European market and coordinate joint tourism routes, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on April 4, 2025, in Samarkand between the State Tourism Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan’s National PR Center. This document aims to jointly promote the tourism brands of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan in Europe, organize road shows, and hold B2B meetings in major European cities.

The strong tourism ties between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are based on a shared historical, cultural and spiritual heritage, as well as economic interests. The similarities between the two peoples, their hospitality and shared past contribute to the further deepening of cooperation. Through tourism, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan are rediscovering each other and moving forward together towards a common future.