Russia and Uzbekistan Expand Horizons in Tourism Cooperation

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — On 11 March 2026, Moscow’s Crocus Expo hosted a strategic session titled “Russia — Uzbekistan: New Horizons in Tourism Cooperation.”

Uzbekistan’s Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee, Sukhrobjon Tadjiev, presented the country’s tourism transformation strategy and new models of bilateral collaboration. He emphasized that Uzbekistan is developing a diversified tourism economy beyond traditional cultural and educational travel, highlighting rapidly growing sectors such as gastronomic, event, medical, and wellness tourism, eco-routes, and modern urban tourism.

Infrastructure projects were a focal point. Plans were discussed for a high-speed rail line connecting Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, establishing a unified Silk Road tourist corridor. A modern highway linking Urgench Airport to Khiva is also planned to shorten travel time for visitors.

The session addressed cross-sector collaborations to create new tourism products, including the development of the Arda Khiva tourism cluster in Khorezm region, a comprehensive ecosystem near a UNESCO World Heritage site. Additionally, O. Semenov outlined plans to expand flights to Urgench from various Russian regions.

The session highlighted the commitment of both countries to enhance tourism cooperation, develop innovative products, and improve infrastructure for comfortable travel.