The WTTC
divides global analysis into 13 major regions, with Central Asia securing the
top position across several key metrics. Notably, Uzbekistan ranked highest
among all Central Asian nations across every evaluated indicator.
The report
highlights that in 2025, the total contribution of tourism to GDP in Central
Asia surged by 17.7%, while its direct contribution rose by 19.6%. Visitor
exports in the region reached USD 9.9 billion, marking a 26.4% annual
increase—the highest growth rate globally. Nearly half of this figure came from
Uzbekistan, which recorded USD 4.8 billion in tourism service exports for 2025.
WTTC data
for 2025 also identifies Uzbekistan as the most popular travel destination for
Central Asian residents. The breakdown of primary travel destinations for the
region's population includes:
- Uzbekistan:
25%
- Kazakhstan:
23%
- Kyrgyzstan:
18%
- Russia:
16%
- Türkiye:
6%
The
organization attributed Uzbekistan's leading position to its rich historical
and cultural heritage and its strong appeal to regional travelers.
"Overall, these figures confirm the regional nature of tourism: Central
Asian residents frequently travel within their own region," the report
notes.
Furthermore,
the report emphasizes significant potential for establishing a unified regional
tourism space in Central Asia. Simplified border procedures, expanded flight
connections, enhanced transport logistics, joint tourism routes, and the
promotion of the region as a single destination are also driving international
visitor inflows from outside the region.
In 2025,
64.3% of total tourism revenue came from international visitors, while domestic
tourists accounted for 35.7%. Regarding travel purposes, 84.5% of international
visitors traveled for leisure, and 15.5% for business.
Looking
ahead, the WTTC forecasts that the total contribution of tourism to the Central
Asian economy will reach USD 29.7 billion by 2036.
