How Uzbekistan Attracts Millions of Visitors and Billions of Dollars
WORLD | ORIENT. Uzbekistan is confidently cementing its status as one of the leading tourist destinations in Eurasia. According to the latest World Tourism Barometer data published by UN Tourism (the United Nations World Tourism Organization), the country has entered the global top ten countries with the fastest-growing tourism industries. The growth rate is impressive: from January to June 2026 alone, the country welcomed 6.56 million foreign visitors, an increase of almost 25% compared to the same period last year.
What is driving these results and what new attractions are emerging in neighboring countries? Explore the latest news on Uzbek tourism.
New Hotels and Premium Resorts
The infrastructural leap is accompanied by the arrival of leading global hotel brands and the opening of large-scale complexes:
Beldersoy Resort and Spa: A new international-class mountain resort has opened in the picturesque Bostanlyk district. It offers 109 rooms, approximately 40 premium cottages, cable cars, a 3.5-kilometer ski slope, and modern spa and fitness facilities.
Mercure Khiva (opening October 1): The French chain Accor opens a 4-star hotel directly at the entrance to the historic Ichan-Kala complex in Khiva (146 rooms, a hammam, a fitness center, and a panoramic rooftop restaurant).
Reikartz Afrosiyob (Samarkand): The renowned Karvon Plaza hotel has been transferred to the management of Reikartz Group, Uzbekistan's largest chain. Its convenient location near the airport and the Siab Bazaar makes it an ideal hub for cultural and business tourism.
Transport Accessibility: Closer to the Mountains and Regions
Developing logistics is opening up previously hard-to-reach locations for travelers:
Flights to Sariosiyo: Regional airline Silk Avia has launched weekly flights on the Bukhara-Sariosiyo-Bukhara route. This has reduced the travel time to one hour and opened access to the unique Surkhandarya region—the highest mountain region in the country, famous for the Sangardak Waterfall.
Tashkent-Samarkand Highway: Construction has begun on a new highway that, once completed, will reduce travel time between the cities from five to two and a half hours, increasing capacity to 80,000 vehicles per day.
Event Tourism: From the Melon Festival to Comic Con, Uzbekistan is actively investing in an events calendar that attracts tourists with vibrant festivals:
Melon Festival 2026 (August 7–9, Khiva): A large-scale celebration at the Ichan-Kala and Arda complexes in Khiva, featuring melon exhibitions, food courts, craft fairs, and a concert by singer MakSim.
Amirsoy Paradiso (August 15–16): The Amirsoy mountain resort (65 km from Tashkent) at an altitude of 1,681 meters will host an open-air symphony concert performed by the State Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan.
Comic Con Tashkent 2026 (August 15–16, Humo Arena): The largest pop culture festival featuring star actors from the cult series "Game of Thrones" and "Stranger Things."
New Urban and Ethnographic Spaces
Tourist Villages and Streets: A fully-fledged ethnographic village with guesthouses and craft workshops is being created in the Navoi Region. And in Tashkent, a new 24-hour tourist street with cafes and shops is being developed between the Megaplanet Shopping Center and the Yunusabad Circle.
Uzbekistan's experience, highly praised by UN Tourism, demonstrates a comprehensive approach: the combination of government support for infrastructure, hotel chain expansion, and vibrant event marketing creates a powerful synergistic effect for the entire hospitality industry in the region.
