7.7 million tourists and $3.9 billion in tourism services exports: Uzbekistan’s tourism sector continues to grow
2026-08-12 09:45:00 / News
The positive growth trend in inbound tourism has continued in recent years. In 2023, the country welcomed 6.6 million foreign tourists, followed by more than 10 million in 2024. By the end of 2025, the figure had reached 11.7 million.
The growth in tourist arrivals has been accompanied by an expansion of international air connectivity. From January to June 2026, Uzbekistan’s airports handled 8.15 million passengers, 16% more than during the same period in 2025. During this period, a total of 64,831 flights were handled, an 8% increase, including 47,371 international flights, up 12%.
International flights accounted for 6.7 million passengers, representing a 15.4% increase year-on-year. The volume of cargo and mail handled by the country’s airports also increased by 33%, reaching 51,500 tonnes.
The network of direct international air routes is also expanding. In 2026, new international services to Tashkent were launched, including China Eastern flights from Shanghai, Asiana Airlines flights from Seoul, and Shirak Avia flights from Yerevan. Regional airports have also demonstrated positive growth: passenger traffic increased by 52% in Termez, 24% in Urgench, and 23% in Nukus.
The increase in tourist arrivals has been accompanied by the expansion of accommodation infrastructure. From January to July 2026, 705 new accommodation facilities with a total capacity of 22,296 beds were established across the country. As a result, the total number of accommodation facilities reached 7,440, with a total capacity of 202,600 beds.
The economic impact of tourism growth is also reflected in rising revenues from tourism services. From January to July 2026, exports of tourism services amounted to $3,895.7 million, representing a 56% increase compared to the same period last year.
One of the latest examples of the expansion of Uzbekistan’s international air connectivity was the launch of a direct Etihad Airways service between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent. The inaugural flight took place on August 10, 2026. To mark the launch, a reception was held at a hotel in Tashkent to celebrate the airline’s entry into the Uzbek market.
The expansion of international air connectivity, development of accommodation infrastructure, and attraction of investment are creating additional conditions for further growth in inbound tourism. Key priorities for the sector include improving the country’s transport accessibility, developing new tourism products, enhancing service quality, and implementing investment projects across the regions.
Thus, the growth of inbound tourism is accompanied by positive dynamics across the sector’s key indicators:
Foreign tourist arrivals — up 22.6%
Exports of tourism services — up 56%
Airport passenger traffic — up 16%
Taken together, these trends confirm the growing role of tourism in Uzbekistan’s economy and demonstrate the sector’s significant potential for further development.