Uzbekistan Plans Silk Road Museum in Samarkand

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has reviewed a presentation on ongoing projects and prospective initiatives in the fields of culture and tourism.

One of the flagship projects is the construction of a new Silk Road Museum in Samarkand. The museum will be located on a 9-hectare site and will house more than 6,000 exhibits, including archaeological finds as well as works of fine and applied art. The project envisions exhibition halls, a 160-seat auditorium, a children’s academy, a research center, and dedicated storage facilities for collections.

During the discussion, particular emphasis was placed on expanding public access to cultural institutions and modernizing their operational formats and content. In this context, proposals were reviewed to upgrade 839 cultural centers across the country, including infrastructure renewal, greater private sector involvement, and the introduction of new areas of activity. More than 1 trillion Uzbek soums are planned to be allocated to the development of the cultural sector through 2030.

A separate priority was the early identification and support of talented young people in the arts, including the creation of conditions for education and accommodation. Initiatives to support the Andijan Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Tumor dance ensemble were also approved.

Priorities also include the development of national content in the media space and the creation of a digital database of cultural heritage using artificial intelligence technologies. In addition, mechanisms for preferential lending to non-governmental cultural organizations are planned, along with expanded grant support for theaters and creative collectives.

The tourism sector continues to show positive dynamics: since the beginning of the year, around 3 million foreign tourists have visited the country, 37 percent more than in the same period last year, while tourism service exports increased by 48 percent, reaching 1.1 billion US dollars. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to raise annual tourist arrivals to 20 million, with a target of 12 million visitors in 2026.

To achieve these goals, targeted regional tourism development programs will be implemented, taking into account local conditions and resources. In 2026–2027, the launch of 31 master plans is expected, alongside the creation of more than 40,000 jobs, an increase in accommodation facilities to 8,250, and the expansion of tourism villages and mahallas to 84.

Additional measures are being considered to develop new tourism products and support entrepreneurship, including compensation of up to 25 percent of marketing costs aimed at attracting foreign tourists, within a limit of 500 million soums.

Further incentives will be introduced for entrepreneurs organizing cultural and entertainment programs, along with practical training courses involving domestic and international experts in the service sector.

Following the presentation, instructions were issued for further refinement of the projects and their implementation based on clear calculations and phased planning.