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Uzbekistan to Attract 25 Million Foreign Tourists by 2030 through Transport Modernization

18 October 2025

Uzbekistan plans to increase the number of foreign tourists to 25 million by 2030, and domestic tourists to 50 million annually. The government believes that this goal can be achieved through the modernization of transport infrastructure.

Currently, the country welcomes more than 1 million tourists per month, but to reach the target, this number must exceed 2 million. To make this possible, a large-scale program is being implemented to create a modern transportation network.

In particular, new international airports have been built across Uzbekistan, bringing their total number to 18. Additionally, seven airports—including those in Bukhara, Andijan, and Urgench—are being modernized, and a new airport for the capital is under construction in the Tashkent region.

Thanks to these developments, the government has set more ambitious goals—previously, the plan was to attract 15 million foreign tourists by 2030.

Today, 51 airlines from various countries operate regular flights to Uzbekistan. These include Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, South Korea, China, India, Malaysia, Turkey, Russia, Poland, and others. The number of airlines and destinations continues to grow.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan plans to purchase 22 modern Boeing aircraft from the United States. This will help strengthen air connections with Southeast Asia, Europe, the United States, and other regions.

At the same time, the country is actively modernizing its domestic railway and road systems. New comfortable electric and high-speed trains are being launched, and electric buses are now operating in cities. Road infrastructure is being developed along tourist routes, covering even the most remote regions of the country.

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New Historical Films “The Magic Lamp” and “The Pearl of Bukhara” Showcase Uzbekistan’s Cultural Heritage

As part of the state program “Living History,” Uzbekistan has launched two major film projects — “The Magic Lamp” and “The Pearl of Bukhara.” Created by Uzbekfilm in collaboration with the Russian studio Lendok, these films aim to preserve and popularize the country’s rich cultural heritage. “The Magic Lamp” blends the charm of an Eastern fairy tale with modern cinematic style, while “The Pearl of Bukhara” portrays the Emir of Bukhara’s role in building St. Petersburg’s Juma Mosque. Filming takes place in Uzbekistan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan, with premieres expected to captivate both local and international audiences.

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Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan: Where History Lives On

Uzbekistan — the heart of the Silk Road — is famed for its breathtaking architecture, vibrant traditions, and enduring craftsmanship. From the 2,000-year-old fortresses of Toprak-Kala and Ayaz-Kala to the majestic Registan Square in Samarkand, Bukhara’s Po-i-Kalyan Ensemble, and Khiva’s Ichan-Kala, the country’s UNESCO-listed sites mesmerize visitors with their intricate mosaics, grand minarets, and shimmering domes.

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In every corner of Uzbekistan, history breathes — in the taste of fragrant plov, the glow of ancient madrasahs under the desert sun, and the hands of craftsmen continuing timeless traditions. Here, the past and present intertwine, creating a living celebration of beauty, identity, and cultural pride.

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Online Visa Extension for Foreigners in Uzbekistan

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Did you know?

Uzbekistan is one of only two countries in the world to be ‘double landlocked’ (landlocked and totally surrounded by other landlocked countries). Liechtenstein is double landlocked by 2 countries whilst Uzbekistan is surrounded by 5!

Did you know that Uzbekistan lies in the very heart of Eurasia, the coordinates for Uzbekistan are 41.0000° N, 69.0000°

Uzbekistan is home to the Muruntan gold mine, one of the largest open pit gold mines in the world! The country has 4th largest reserves of gold in the world after South Africa, USA and Russia

Uzbekistan is the world capital of melons. They have in excess of 150 different varieties, which form a staple part of the local diet, served fresh in the summer and eaten dried through the winter.

It is Uzbek tradition that the most respected guest be seated farthest from the house’s entrance.

Tashkent’s metro features chandeliers, marble pillars and ceilings, granite, and engraved metal. It has been called one of the most beautiful train stations in the world.

The Uzbek master chef is able to cook in just one caldron enough plov to serve a thousand men.

When you are a host to someone, it is your duty to fill their cups with for the whole time they are with you. What you must not do, however, is to fill their cup more than half-full. If you do that as a mistake, say it is a mistake immediately. Doing it means you want them to leave. Wow! Amazing, right?

To Uzbeks, respect means a whole lot. For this reason they love it if, even as foreigners, you endeavour to add the respectful suffix opa after a woman's name; and aka after a man's. Example: Linda-opa and David-aka. You could also use hon and jon respectively.

Having been an historic crossroads for centuries as part of various ancient empires, Uzbekistan’s food is very eclectic. It has its roots in Iranian, Arab, Indian, Russian and Chinese cuisine.

Though identified with the Persia, the Zoroastrism probably originated in Bactria or Sogdiana. Many distinguished scholars share an opinion that Zoroastrianism had originated in the ancient Khorezm. Indeed, today in the world there were found 63 Zoroastrian monuments, including those in Iran, India, Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thirty-eight of them are in Uzbekistan, whereas 17 of these monuments are located in Khorezm.

One of Islam's most sacred relics - the world's oldest Koran that was compiled in Medina by Othman, the third caliph or Muslim leader, is kept in Tashkent. It was completed in the year 651, only 19 years after Muhammad's death.

Tashkent is the only megapolis in the world where public transport is totally comprised of Mercedes buses. And due to low urban air polution it is one of the few cities where one can still see the stars in the sky.

You would be surprised to know that modern TV was born in Tashkent. No joke! The picture of moving objects was transmitted by radio first time in the world in Tashkent on 26 of July 1928 by inventors B.P. Grabovsky and I.F. Belansky.

Uzbekistan is the only country in the world all of whose neighbours have their names ending in STAN. This is also the only country in Central Asia that borders all of the countries of this region

Uzbeks are the third populous Turkik ethnicity in the world after Turks and Azeris (leaving both in Azerbaijan and Iran)

Did you know that there was silk money in Khiva? Super interesting right? Of course, but the best part of having silk money was that it could be sewn into your clothing.

Famous Islamic physician Ibn Sina (Avicenna in the Latin world) who was born near Bukhara was the one of the first people to advocate using women’s hair as suture material – about 1400 years ago.

Uzbekistan has a long and bloody history. The most notorious leader of Uzbekistan was Timur (or Tamerlane) who claimed descent from Genghis Khan. His military campaigns have been credited for wiping out some 5% of the world’s population at the time.

If you have thought that some of the Islamic architecture in Uzbekistan resembles that from Northern India, then that is because Timur’s great great great Grandson, Babur Beg, was the founder of the Moghul Empire that ruled much of India for almost four centuries! Babur’s great great Grandson was Shah Jahan, who built the Taj Mahal.

Uzbekistan was once a rum producig country. There is still a real arboretum in Denau (city near Termez on the border with Afghanistan), grown from a selection station that studied the prospects of plant growing in the unusual for the Soviet Union subtropical climate of Surkhandarya region: only here in the whole of the USSR sugar cane was grown and even rum was produced!

Uzbekistan has been ranked one of the safest countries in the world, according to a new global poll. The annual Gallup Global Law and Order asked if people felt safe walking at night and whether they had been victims of crime. The survey placed Uzbekistan 5th out of 135 countries, while the UK was 21st and the US 35th. Top five safest countries:

Singapore
Norway
Iceland
Finland
Uzbekistan

Exchange rates

100 RUR

14801.88 UZS

100 USD

1202292.81 UZS

100 EUR

1388956.32 UZS

100 GBP

1575243.86 UZS

Weather in cities

Tashkent

Samarkand