Uzbekistan Showcases Tourism Potential at International Exhibition in Malaysia

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The tourism opportunities of Uzbekistan and its specialized combined travel packages, "Umrah + Uzbekistan," were extensively presented in Kuala Lumpur during the international workshop and exhibition, HUITM – Umrah Plus International Travel Market & Exhibition 2026.

The specialized event was jointly organized by the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the domestic Association of Travel Agencies for the Organization of Umrah Pilgrimage, and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Malaysia, alongside Malaysian partners. The exhibition served as a pivotal B2B platform dedicated to strengthening direct business relations between the tourism operators of both nations.

The Uzbekistani delegation included representatives from approximately ten leading tourism companies and hotel complexes specializing in the ziyarat tourism (pilgrimage tourism) sector. On the sidelines of the exhibition, the delegation conducted a series of direct negotiations with executives from more than 30 international travel organizations representing Malaysia and other countries in the region.

During the presentations, the Malaysian side was introduced to Uzbekistan's rich cultural and historical heritage sites, foundational landmarks of Islamic civilization, and the rapid modernization of the country's national tourism infrastructure. The primary focus of the presentations was placed on the economic and logistical advantages of Uzbekistan's unique "Umrah Plus" packages. These packages allow pilgrims traveling from Southeast Asia to seamlessly combine their visits to holy sites in Saudi Arabia with cultural, educational, and religious tours through the historic cities of Uzbekistan.

Following the B2B sessions, the participating parties signed several cooperation agreements. These initial pacts guarantee an influx of more than 2,000 Malaysian travelers to Uzbekistan during the opening phase of the program's implementation. Under the signed memoranda, foreign and domestic tour operators are beginning the joint development of unified route maps, the optimization of reciprocal tourist flow channels, and the scaling of service exports within the religious tourism sector.

Industry experts estimate that participation in the HUITM 2026 exhibition will significantly strengthen Uzbekistan's competitive positioning within the high-yield Southeast Asian tourism market while elevating the global recognition of the republic's brand as a major international center for pilgrimage and cultural travel.