Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The meeting provided an opportunity to present Uzbekistan’s investment potential in the tourism sector, the opportunities available to foreign investors, government support mechanisms, and major international events scheduled to take place in Tashkent on 25–27 November 2026.

Abdulaziz Akkulov emphasised the important role of diplomatic missions as a bridge connecting government institutions, business representatives, investors and tourism industry stakeholders in Uzbekistan and their respective countries.

As highlighted during the presentation, Uzbekistan’s tourism sector has experienced dynamic growth in recent years, becoming one of the country's key economic industries. In particular, the number of foreign tourists increased from nearly 2 million in 2016 to 11.7 million in 2025, while tourism services exports grew from USD 531 million to USD 4.8 billion. During the first ten months of 2026, Uzbekistan welcomed 11.6 million foreign tourists, while tourism services exports reached USD 6.1 billion.

Under the Uzbekistan – 2030 Strategy, the country aims to increase annual foreign tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2030, while also raising average tourist expenditure and extending the length of visitors’ stays.

Attracting international investment plays a crucial role in achieving these objectives. In this context, the first International Tourism Investment Forum will be held on 25 November, providing a platform to showcase promising projects to foreign investors and establish practical cooperation.

The forum's programme will feature 11 thematic sessions covering the investment climate, transport and logistics, medical tourism, international hotel brands, integration of the film industry and tourism, public-private partnerships, development of tourism destinations, mountain and safe tourism, cross-border tourism in Central Asia, sustainable tourism and artificial intelligence technologies. A Tourism Hackathon will also be organised.

An investment portfolio comprising 112 projects across six key areas has been prepared for the forum. Of these, 53 projects focus on hotel development and tourism infrastructure, 11 on cultural and historical heritage sites, 7 on ecological and adventure tourism, 7 on medical and wellness tourism, 30 on entertainment and family-oriented infrastructure, and 4 on transport infrastructure.

These projects will be presented to foreign investors to explore investment opportunities and assess their readiness for implementation. Pre-arranged B2B and B2G meetings and negotiations will also be organised.

One of the key components of the international tourism events taking place in Tashkent on 25–27 November 2026 will be the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair, “Tourism on the Silk Road”.

A 10,000-square-metre exhibition space will be set up for the three-day fair, bringing together international and domestic tour operators, airlines, hotel chains, investors and digital technology companies. More than 15,000 visitors, over 65 international hosted buyers and more than 100 companies are expected to participate. For the first time, a dedicated technology ecosystem bringing together more than 40 digital tourism companies will also be presented.

The fair's business programme will include the Tourism Ministers' Forum, the ICCA Associations and Business Events Forum, Global Media Campus, Silk Road Tourism Awards, Uzbekistan Hospitality B2B Platform, and the Uzbekistan–Belarus Tourism Forum. B2B meetings, international negotiations and a Tourism Hackathon will also take place. The event aims to secure more than 25 agreements in the fields of hospitality, medical and wellness tourism, culture, entertainment, transport and ecotourism.

Another major event of the three-day international programme will be the official opening ceremony of 2027 – the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, scheduled for 27 November in cooperation with UN Tourism.

The International Year was proposed at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and officially proclaimed by UN General Assembly Resolution 78/260, adopted on 26 February 2024. More than 80 UN Member States co-sponsored the resolution, reflecting broad international recognition of the importance of sustainable and resilient tourism development.

The main objective of the International Year is to strengthen the role of tourism in promoting sustainable economic growth, creating new jobs, improving social well-being and fostering cultural exchange, while enhancing the sector's resilience to challenges such as pandemics, geopolitical crises, natural disasters and climate change.

Tashkent will become the first venue from which the global programme of the International Year will be officially launched. The opening ceremony will bring together tourism ministers, representatives of international organisations and other key industry stakeholders, creating opportunities to advance international initiatives and cooperation programmes throughout 2027. The programme will include a meeting of tourism ministers, thematic discussion sessions and visits to tourism destinations across Uzbekistan.

This event will provide important opportunities to strengthen Uzbekistan's role in shaping the global tourism agenda, promote the principles of sustainable and resilient tourism internationally, and expand international cooperation throughout 2027.

Thus, the International Tourism Investment Forum, the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair and the opening ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, all scheduled to take place in Tashkent on 25–27 November, will form a unified international platform aimed at attracting investment, expanding international business ties and advancing sustainable tourism development.