Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The main objective of the new international organisation is to combine Umrah pilgrimage with Uzbekistan’s rich historical, cultural and religious heritage, increase the number of foreign pilgrims visiting the country, and promote Uzbekistan’s potential in pilgrimage tourism on international markets.

As noted at the event, Uzbekistan is placing particular emphasis on taking the tourism sector to a new stage of development, transforming it into one of the important drivers of the national economy, and further showcasing the country’s tourism potential in international tourism markets. In this context, the development of pilgrimage tourism and the attraction of new target markets are among the key areas of the “Umrah Plus” concept.

As part of the Association’s activities, particular attention will be given to attracting pilgrims from Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries to Uzbekistan under the “Umrah Plus” programme. New tourism routes are planned to combine Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia with visits to historical and religious sites in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara.

In this regard, a roadmap has been approved to attract 100,000 pilgrims from Malaysia and Indonesia in 2026–2027. The programme will also focus on improving the quality of tourism services, expanding air connectivity, strengthening cooperation with foreign tour operators, and developing new tourism products that meet international market requirements.

In particular, proposals have been put forward to launch transit tourism routes allowing travellers to fly from Kuala Lumpur to Saudi Arabia via Samarkand or Bukhara. Such routes will help combine Uzbekistan’s transport and logistics capabilities in Central Asia with its potential in pilgrimage tourism.

During the event, a Memorandum of Cooperation was also signed between the State Institution “Tourist Product Development Project Office” under the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the International Tourism Association “Umrah Plus”. The parties agreed to implement joint projects, exchange experience and further expand cooperation in pilgrimage tourism.

The mechanisms for implementing the “Umrah Plus” programme are defined by Resolution No. 6 of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated 9 January 2026. Under the document, until the end of 2026, tour operators attracting tourists from Malaysia and Indonesia under the programme will be eligible for a subsidy of USD 100 per tourist.

The newly established International Tourism Association “Umrah Plus” is expected to become an important platform for coordinating international cooperation in this area, strengthening ties with foreign tourism markets, and broadly promoting Uzbekistan’s potential in pilgrimage tourism.