Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Tashkent will host three major international tourism events on 25–27 November 2026: the International Tourism Investment Forum, the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair "Tourism on the Silk Road" and the opening ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism, the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan said.
The programme was presented at a business breakfast attended by Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov, heads of foreign diplomatic missions, consular offices and international organisations.
Participants were also briefed on the tourism industry's investment potential, conditions for foreign investors and government support mechanisms.
Akkulov highlighted the role of diplomatic missions in developing ties between government agencies, businesses, investors and tourism market participants in Uzbekistan and other countries.
According to figures presented at the meeting, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan increased from nearly 2 million in 2016 to 11.7 million in 2025.
Tourism service exports rose from US$531 million to US$4.8 billion over the same period. In the first 10 months of 2026, Uzbekistan received 11.6 million foreign tourists, while tourism service exports reached US$6.1 billion.
Under the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, the country plans to increase annual foreign tourist arrivals to 20 million by 2030. It also aims to raise tourists' average spending and length of stay.
The first International Tourism Investment Forum will be one of the programme's main events. It will open on 25 November and present investment projects and opportunities in the tourism sector.
The forum programme includes 11 thematic sessions covering the investment climate, transport and logistics, medical tourism and international hotel brands.
Other topics include cooperation between the film and tourism industries, public-private partnerships, tourism destination development, mountain and safe tourism, and cross-border tourism in Central Asia.
The remaining sessions will focus on sustainable tourism and artificial intelligence. A Tourism Hackathon is also planned.
A portfolio of 112 projects across six areas has been prepared for presentation to investors.
The portfolio includes 53 projects in hotel businesses and tourism infrastructure, and 11 involving cultural and historical heritage sites.
Seven projects each cover ecotourism and extreme tourism, as well as medical and wellness tourism. Another 30 projects involve entertainment and family infrastructure, while four concern transport infrastructure.
The forum will address investment opportunities and project readiness. Pre-arranged business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings are also planned.
The 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair "Tourism on the Silk Road" will run from 25 to 27 November. An exhibition venue covering 10,000 square metres will be prepared for the event.
More than 15,000 visitors, over 65 hosted buyers from abroad and more than 100 companies are expected to attend.
For the first time, the fair will feature a technology ecosystem bringing together more than 40 digital tourism companies.
The business programme includes a Forum of Tourism Ministers, an ICCA forum for associations and business events, Global Media Campus and the Silk Road Tourism Awards.
It will also feature the Uzbekistan Hospitality B2B Platform and the Uzbekistan–Belarus Tourism Forum. Business meetings, international talks and a Tourism Hackathon are also scheduled.
The organisers expect to reach more than 25 agreements covering hotels, medical and wellness tourism, culture, the entertainment industry, transport and ecotourism.
Another event will be the opening ceremony of the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism 2027. It will take place on 27 November in cooperation with UN Tourism.
The initiative to proclaim 2027 the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism was proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 78/260 on 26 February 2024, with more than 80 UN member states supporting it as co-sponsors.
The initiative aims to strengthen tourism's role in sustainable economic growth, job creation, social well-being and cultural exchange.
Particular attention is being paid to improving the industry's resilience to pandemics, geopolitical crises, natural disasters and climate change.
Tashkent will become the first venue for the global programme marking the International Year.
Tourism ministers, representatives of international organisations and other industry participants are expected to attend the opening ceremony.
The programme will also include a meeting of tourism ministers, thematic discussions and visits to tourism sites in Uzbekistan.
