On 5–6 May 2026, the “Made in Uzbekistan” national products exhibition and the Uzbekistan–China Business Forum were held in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
On the sidelines of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Akkulov held a meeting with a delegation from Saudi Arabia led by Mohammad Abunayyan, Founder and Chairman of Acwa and Chairman of Vision Invest.
From April 30 to May 2, the Bishkek International Tourism Fair 2026 is taking place in Bishkek, where Uzbekistan is actively participating with a national stand. This prestigious event is one of the leading B2B and B2C platforms in the tourism and hospitality sector.
The Khorezm Lazgi dance, which occupies a special place in the rich history of dance art in our country, is known not only in Uzbekistan but also abroad for its distinctive performance style and captivating appeal. The inclusion of the Khorezm Lazgi dance in UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity also testifies to its uniqueness as an art form.
On April 23, 2026, the first Destination Forum — Destination Karakalpakstan 2026, was held in the city of Nukus, aimed at promoting the tourism potential of Uzbekistan, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan, on the international stage.
From April 22 to 24, Almaty is hosting the international tourism exhibition KITF-2026 — the largest professional platform and a key event in the country’s tourism industry.
On April 23–24, 2026, the international gastronomic festival “99 Dishes from Aral Fish” will take place at the “Karateren” ethno-tourism complex, located in the Takhtakupyr district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
From April 17 to 24 of this year, an info tour is being organized for representatives of foreign tourism companies, covering tourist sites and attractions in the city of Tashkent, the Khorezm region, and the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Uzbekistan is participating in Milan Design Week for the first time, presenting the national exhibition “When Apricots Blossom” at Palazzo Citterio.
The project is implemented by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation at the initiative of Shavkat Mirziyoyev and aims to promote the environmental and cultural agenda of the Aral Sea region.
On April 15–16, an international congress titled “Redesigning the future of tourism in Turkic states: from local roots to global reach, positivity, and smart transformation” was held in Ankara.
A large-scale presentation of the “Umrah Plus Uzbekistan” project was held in Istanbul, Turkey.
From April 17 to 19, the 4th International Embroidery Festival will be held in the historic center of Samarkand.
To widely promote the tourism potential of the Jizzakh region, the “Sumalak Sayli” festival was organized in the tourist village of Ukhum in the Forish district.
The first tourist train of the year, the “Orient Silk Road Express,” has ceremoniously departed from Tashkent. This unique train, recognized as a “hotel on wheels,” officially marked the start of the 2026 railway tourism season.
The China Eastern Airlines is expanding its presence in the Uzbekistan market by launching regular passenger flights on the Shanghai – Tashkent – Shanghai route.
As part of the consistent development of the tourism industry in the city of Tashkent, the establishment of effective dialogue with market participants, and the resolution of existing issues on the ground, a large-scale open dialogue was organized by a republican working group led by A.Akkulov, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Tourism Committee organized a press tour to the Imam Bukhari complex, one of the country's largest spiritual, educational, and pilgrimage centers, which was renovated at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, S.Tadjiyev, held a working meeting with the Minister of Economic Development and Property Relations of the Chuvash Republic, Larisa Rafikova. The parties discussed prospects for bilateral cooperation in the field of tourism and agreed to establish systematic interaction in several areas.
On March 23–24, 2026, the city of Samarkand will host the “Dishes of the East” festival for the first time. The event is organized to widely promote the rich traditions of Eastern cuisine, showcase its unique flavors and cooking culture at the international level, as well as to support the development of gastronomic tourism and increase the flow of tourists to the country.
A delegation from the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a working meeting with the leadership of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia.
Uzbekistan is actively developing its tourism sector and building cooperation with leading international organizations. Within the framework of collaboration with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)—an international organization bringing together leading companies from the travel and hospitality industry to promote sustainable sector development and exchange best practices—the country is already implementing key initiatives aimed at improving safety standards, service quality, and the digitalization of the tourism industry.
Tashkent offers travelers many unique locations, and one of them is the Museum of the History of the Prosecutor’s Office of Uzbekistan. This is an unconventional attraction that can enrich a tourist itinerary around the capital and add a new format of excursion experience to any travel program.
On the sidelines of the international tourism exhibition ITB Berlin 2026, held in the capital of Germany, Berlin, a meeting took place between the Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, and the Secretary-General of UN Tourism, Shaikha Nasser Al Nowais.
From March 3 to 5, the 60th anniversary edition of the international tourism fair “ITB-2026” is being held in Berlin, the capital of Germany.
A delegation of Uzbekistan headed by the Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Abdulaziz Akkulov, who participated in the UN Tourism Ministers’ Summit held as part of the international tourism exhibition “ITB Berlin” in Berlin, Germany, conducted a series of bilateral meetings with representatives of international organizations and businesses. The purpose of the negotiations was to widely promote the country’s tourism potential on the international stage and to discuss ways to increase tourist arrivals.
On March 2, 2026, the UN Tourism Ministers’ Summit took place in Berlin (Germany) as part of the international tourism exhibition ITB Berlin.
The grave of Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari is located in the village of Khartang, 25 kilometers from Samarkand. The large-scale project contemplates a complete reconstruction of a land plot with an area of 48k square meters. It includes a new large mosque with a capacity of 9,000 believers, as well as beautiful landscaped gardens with an area of 4,400 square meters.
The popular international magazine National Geographic Traveller has published an article by Polish journalist, reporter, and writer Agnieszka Franus dedicated to the historic cities and tourism potential of Uzbekistan. The article appears in a special issue dedicated to the “30 Most Beautiful Cities in Asia.”
From February 25 to 27 this year, the South Asia tourism exhibition “SATTE-2026” (South Asia’s Travel & Tourism Exchange) is being held at the Yashobhoomi Expo Center in New Delhi, the capital of India, where Uzbekistan is represented with a national pavilion.
Uzbekistan has been honored with the prestigious international VETA Awards — one of the largest and most authoritative awards in the fields of tourism, luxury travel, and hospitality. The official award ceremony took place on February 24 at the ITC Maurya Hotel in New Delhi.
On February 24, 2026, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee Sandjar Tadjiyev held a meeting with Hüseyin Güzel, Head of the Tashkent Representative Office of the Turkish Airlines.
On February 20–22 of this year, the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with domestic tour operators, broadly presented Uzbekistan’s tourism potential at the international tourism fair “Danish Travel Show” held in the city of Herning (Kingdom of Denmark).
The Chairman of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Uzbekistan, Walid Fouque.
As a result of consistent efforts to promote the tourism potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the international stage, the country has received another prestigious international recognition. This time, Uzbekistan was named the winner in the “Culture Destination of the Year” category at the Voyage Awards 2025.
On February 19, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington.
The international exhibition “Muslim Travel Show,” bringing together leading representatives of the pilgrimage tourism sector, was held at the ExCeL London exhibition center in the capital of the United Kingdom.
On February 14, 2026, as part of the VII Hotel Business Forum 2026, the ceremony for the 5th National Hospitality Awards — a milestone event summarizing the year in the tourism and hospitality industry — took place.
On February 14, 2026, the second day of the VII Hotel Business Forum 2026 — one of the most significant events of the year in the tourism and hospitality sector — took place in Tashkent. The forum, held at the Hilton Tashkent City, was organized by the Hoteliers Association of Uzbekistan with the support of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
On February 13, 2026, Tashkent hosted the opening of the VII Hotel Business Forum 2026 — a key professional platform dedicated to the development of tourism and the hospitality industry. The forum brought together experts, investors, and representatives of international brands to discuss innovations and strategies shaping the future of Uzbekistan’s tourism sector.
On 10–12 February 2026, Uzbekistan’s tourism potential was presented for the first time at the international tourism exhibition BIT-2026 (Borsa Internazionale del Turismo) held in Milan, Italy.
The leading international publication The Washington Post has highlighted Uzbekistan as a notable travel destination for 2026 in one of its articles.
This morning, a literary and educational event dedicated to the 585th anniversary of the birth of the great poet, thinker, and one of the geniuses of world literature, Alisher Navoi, was held at the Alley of Writers in the capital.
From 5 to 7 February of the current year, the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with representatives of tourism companies operating in the country, is participating for the first time in one of the largest tourism exhibitions in India and Asia — “OTM Mumbai.”
On February 5, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif held narrow-format talks and the first meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad.
On 5–6 February of the current year, the exhibition “Made in Uzbekistan” is being held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, showcasing the industrial potential of Uzbekistan.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Islamabad on a state visit.
In Pakistan’s airspace, the distinguished guest’s aircraft was escorted by fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force.
On January 19 of this year, a road show and cultural program featuring leading tourism companies was held in Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
Uzbekistan is strengthening its position as one of the most promising tourist destinations attracting the attention of European travelers.
On January 29, a meeting took place between S. Bobokalonov, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Karin Frouin, the Urban Development, Planning and Housing Division at the French Development Agency (AFD), and Olivier Grandvoinet, Director of the AFD Representative Office in Uzbekistan.
The Republic of Uzbekistan has been officially recognized by the organization ASIA Records as the Asian country with the most UNESCO-listed Islamic historic cities.
A meeting between the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was held in a tête-à-tête format at the Presidential Palace in Ankara.
A presentation of the “Umrah Plus” project was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, organized by the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev together with his spouse arrived in Ankara on an official visit.
As part of efforts to promote its tourism potential in the U.S. market, Uzbekistan held a series of roadshows titled “Uzbekistan — the Pearl of the Silk Road,” which began in New York and continued in Chicago.
The Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan is consistently implementing measures to expand international cooperation and promote the country’s tourism potential abroad. One of the key areas of focus is pilgrimage tourism, particularly within the framework of the “Umrah Plus” program, which combines religious travel with cultural and educational routes through the country’s historic cities.
Systematic efforts are being carried out in Uzbekistan to widely attract foreign tourists, create the necessary conditions for them, further expand tourism services, and promote the country’s tourism potential in a targeted manner abroad.
The Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with the aim of widely promoting the country’s tourism potential on the international stage in 2026 and increasing the inflow of foreign visitors, is participating with the national stand of Uzbekistan in the international tourism exhibition FITUR, taking place from January 21 to 25 this year in Madrid, Kingdom of Spain.
On January 22, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace charter in the Swiss city of Davos.
Uzbekistan presented its tourism potential at one of Austria’s largest international travel fairs — Ferien Messe Wien 2026.
On January 15, a video conference meeting was chaired by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic missions abroad. During the meeting, the Head of our state outlined a number of important tasks for the Tourism Committee aimed at further improving foreign policy activities, introducing effective mechanisms within embassies and diplomatic missions abroad to contribute to the country’s economic growth — particularly the development of the tourism sector.
A regular “Political education hour” was held at the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The event, attended by Nodirbek Tilavoldiev, Deputy Chairman of the Central Council of the Democratic Party “Milliy Tiklanish,” focused on discussing the content and significance of the Address of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Oliy Majlis and the people of Uzbekistan dated December 26, 2025, as well as the draft updated version of the “Uzbekistan–2030” strategy.
In line with the key objectives set for the development of the tourism sector through 2030, it is planned to increase tourism’s share of gross domestic product from the current 3.5% to 7%. This will drive economic growth by attracting investment into the sector, improving service quality, and creating new jobs.
On behalf of the staff of the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, we sincerely congratulate all the brave and courageous defenders of the Motherland on this great holiday.
May your honorable service for the prosperity and future of our Motherland always be held in the highest esteem.
According to China’s Xinhua news agency, citing data from the tourism online platform Qunar, the number of airline bookings from China to Uzbekistan doubled during the New Year holiday period, from 1 to 3 January, compared to the same period last year. This reflects a significant increase in the country’s appeal to Chinese travelers.
Creating accessible infrastructure for tourists with disabilities in the Republic of Uzbekistan is one of the key priorities in the development of “barrier-free tourism”. This concept not only expands opportunities in the tourism sector but also contributes to ensuring social justice and equality. In recent years, significant attention has been paid to modernizing tourism infrastructure, including the introduction of accessibility features for people with disabilities at historical sites, museums, hotels, and in public transport.
An analytical article by journalist Fred Hafner about his trip to Uzbekistan has been published in the German online travel-focused outlet www.reiseblick.net under the title “Enormous potential: Uzbekistan plans to double the number of tourists by 2030.”
The Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with partner organizations, is holding Youth Tourism Week across the country. As part of the Week, school pupils, students, and young people aged 7 to 30 are traveling to major attractions throughout Uzbekistan.
One of Pakistan’s leading publications, Dawn, has published an article titled “Snowy peaks and Silk Road secrets: a winter journey through Uzbekistan”.
