Uzbekistan Plans to Increase Number of Foreign Tourists to 20 Million by 2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Uzbek authorities have unveiled ambitious plans for the development of the tourism sector for 2026–2030, outlined in the updated “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy, which has been submitted for public discussion on the System for Assessing the Impact of Legislative Acts (SOVAZ) platform.

The strategy envisions comprehensive expansion of both international and domestic tourism through creating favorable conditions for visitors, developing infrastructure, introducing cultural and entertainment programs, and increasing exports of tourism services.

According to the strategy, the number of foreign tourists visiting the country is expected to grow from 12 million in 2026 to 20 million by 2030.

Domestic tourism will also be actively promoted: under the “Travel Around Uzbekistan!” program, 24 million domestic trips are planned for 2026, rising to 25 million by 2030.

Special attention will be given to pilgrimage tourism, which is expected to increase from 2 million visitors in 2026 to 3 million by 2030.

The strategy includes the creation of tourism clusters and the development of regional infrastructure. In 2026, three clusters are planned to be established through private investment, expanding to five by 2030.

Across the regions, 4,000 new hotels, guesthouses, and hostels will be built: construction will begin with 1,560 facilities in 2026, increasing to 2,060 in 2027, 2,560 in 2028, 3,530 in 2029, and reaching the full 4,000 by 2030.

Improving transport accessibility to regions is also part of the strategy. In mountainous areas, 25 new roads will be built: three roads in 2026, three more each in 2027 and 2028, four in 2029, and the remaining five by 2030.

The number of tourist districts, villages, and streets included in travel routes will increase from 100 in 2026 to 175 by 2030.

The economic impact of tourism development is reflected in the growth of tourism service exports from US$4.8 billion in 2026 to US$6 billion by 2030.

Additionally, exports of medical and educational tourism are expected to rise from US$500 million in 2026 to US$1.5 billion by 2030.

Cultural and entertainment activities will receive special focus. Regular theatrical performances and shows will be held at heritage sites and tourist venues, attracting up to 100,000 visitor-tourists annually. In 2026, 20,000 attendees are expected, increasing to 40,000 in 2027, 60,000 in 2028, 80,000 in 2029, and reaching 100,000 by 2030.

The “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy aims to make the country’s tourism sector highly developed and competitive, ensuring comprehensive growth of both domestic and international visitor flows and creating modern tourism infrastructure across the regions.