The positive dynamics of the influx of foreign tourists have continued
consistently in recent years. In 2023, 6.6 million, in 2024, more than 10
million, and by the end of 2025, 11.7 million foreign tourists visited the
country.
The growth in tourist flow is accompanied by the expansion of the
international flight network. In the January–June period of 2026, Uzbekistan's
airports served 8.15 million passengers. This is 16% more than the
corresponding period of last year. During this period, a total of 64,831
flights (+8%) were operated, of which 47,371 were international flights (+12%).
International flights were used by 6.7 million passengers, which is a 15.4%
increase compared to last year. The volume of cargo and mail processed at airports
also increased by 33%, reaching 51.5 thousand tons.
The geography of direct flights is also expanding. In 2026, a number of new
international routes were launched to Tashkent, including flights by
"China Eastern" from Shanghai, "Asiana Airlines" from
Seoul, and "Shirak Avia" from Yerevan. Positive dynamics are also
observed at regional airports: passenger traffic increased by 52% in Termez,
24% in Urgench, and 23% in Nukus.
The growth in tourist flow goes hand in hand with the development of
accommodation infrastructure. In the January–July period of 2026, 705 new
accommodation facilities with 22,296 beds were established in the country. As a
result, their total number reached 7,440, and the number of beds reached 202.6
thousand.
The economic effect of tourism development is also evident in the growth of
revenues from tourist services. In the January–July period of 2026, the volume
of tourist service exports amounted to $3,895.7 million, increasing by 56%
compared to the corresponding period of last year.
One of the recent examples of the expansion of the international route
network was the launch of direct flights between Abu Dhabi and Tashkent by
"Etihad Airways." The inaugural flight was operated on August 10,
2026. In connection with the launch of the new route, a reception dedicated to
the beginning of the airline's operations in Uzbekistan was organized at one of
the hotels in Tashkent.
The expansion of the international flight network, the development of
accommodation infrastructure, and the attraction of investments create
additional conditions for further increasing the foreign tourism sector. Among
the priority areas of the industry, increasing the country's transport
accessibility, developing new tourism products, improving the quality of services,
and implementing investment projects in the regions occupy an important place.
Thus, the growth of foreign tourism flow is accompanied by positive
dynamics in the main indicators of the sector:
- Number
of foreign tourists — 22.6% growth
- Export
of tourist services — 56% growth
- Airport
passenger traffic — 16%
growth
The overall positive dynamics of these indicators confirm the growing role
of tourism in Uzbekistan's economy and the existence of great potential for
further developing the sector.