Uzbekistan tourism surges with 9.1 million foreign visits in 2026

Uzbekistan is experiencing a significant surge in international interest, recording 9.1 million foreign visits during the first eight months of 2026. This represents a 21.1 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year. Revenue from tourism services grew by 53.5 percent, reaching 4.6 billion dollars.

According to Oybek Hakimov, an advisor to the Chairman of the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee, the average spending per tourist has risen to 503 dollars, a substantial increase from 197 dollars recorded in 2017. Data from May and June indicates that visitors now stay for an average of eight days.

While the traditional Silk Road route through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva remains popular, travelers are increasingly exploring regions such as the Fergana Valley, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Karakalpakstan, including Muynak and Nukus. Key historical sites continue to drive interest, including Samarkand’s Registan Square and the Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Bukhara’s historical center, and the UNESCO World Heritage site of Khiva’s Itchan Kala.