Crossroads Asia | Society | Central Asia

Uzbekistan’s Emergence as Central Asia’s Mobility Hub

Behind Uzbekistan’s record visitor numbers, rooted in social and economic ties, lies a larger story of regional reintegration expanding Tashkent’s influence across Central Asia.

In late May, the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan announced that the country’s tourist intake within the first four months of 2026 increased 29 percent compared to the same period last year, with the overall number of tourists exceeding 4 million. 

The latest figures are part of a broader trend that has transformed Uzbekistan into one of Central Asia’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. Last year reportedly 11.7 million people visited the country, a 46.8 percent increase, or 3.7 million more, than in 2024. 

Although the statistics indicate that tourists come from over 200 countries across the globe, the majority come from Uzbekistan’s immediate neighbors. Kyrgyz citizens account for the largest share, with 3.3 million visits in 2025 alone, followed by visitors from Tajikistan (2.7 million) and Kazakhstan (2.7 million). Even Turkmenistan, one of the region’s least accessible countries, accounted for 370,000 arrivals in 2025. 

The scale of growth is particularly striking when viewed over a longer time period. Uzbekistan’s 11.7 million visitor arrivals in 2025 were 333.3 percent higher than in 2017 (2.7 million), amounting to a 4.3 fold increase over the country’s pre-pandemic tourism figures. 

The Statistic’s Committee, an “authorized state body,” labels these visits as “for tourist purposes.” But is this a genuine tourism boom? The statistics hide a great many nuances.

The “boom” is politically enabled, but is socially rooted. Since the change of government in 2016, Tashkent has taken drastic measures to transform Uzbekistan into a prime tourism destination with a particular focus on historic places such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva. Uzbekistan has liberalized its visa regime, allowing citizens of more than 90 countries to enter visa-free, while nationals of dozens of other states can obtain electronic visas through a simplified online application system.

Under Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s regime, Uzbekistan pursued regional policies focusing on integration. In particular, relations with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were normalized, borders reopened and border disputes were resolved. Uzbekistan sought to frame the country as a “safe destination.” Tashkent’s tourism-oriented policy went to such lengths that “tourist police” were introduced, tasked with ensuring the safety of tourists. 

These efforts re-branded Uzbekistan. It was named the country of........

© The Diplomat