Tourism becomes a key area of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB
2026-05-05 15:10:00 / News
The parties noted the high level and systematic nature of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB. It was noted that the country’s current tourism development strategy is fully aligned with the Bank’s priorities, particularly in infrastructure development, enhanced connectivity, and regional integration.
In recent years, tourism has become one of the key drivers of Uzbekistan’s economy: the visa regime has been liberalized for 95 countries, tourist arrivals have increased from 2.7 million in 2017 to 11.7 million in 2025, a short-term sector development program for 2026–2027 is being implemented with the creation of 40,000 jobs, and the long-term strategy “Tourism Vision 2040” is underway.
The priority areas for further cooperation include:
— modernization of border infrastructure and the digitalization of processes to ensure seamless tourist flows;
— development of the UN Tourism Thematic Office “Tourism on the Silk Road” in Samarkand as a regional platform for coordination and promotion;
— cooperation on the Silk Road tourism ring was proposed.
The parties confirmed their readiness to move from project-based cooperation to a more comprehensive approach — the formation of a sustainable and integrated regional tourism ecosystem.