Uzbekistan Targets Indian Family Tourism with New Flights

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan is targeting an increase in tourist arrivals from India, placing its primary strategic focus on family travel and trips with children.

To promote the country, the Tourism Committee is conducting negotiations with Indian bloggers and influencers while expanding partnerships with major tour operators, according to Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov in an interview with the O'zbekiston 24 television channel.

Akkulov stated that the Indian market holds significant potential for further growth in tourist volume, with family tourism identified as a key development sector. Discussions with prominent Indian influencers aim to position Uzbekistan as a safe destination for international travel.

In October 2026, Tashkent will host an awards ceremony honoring representatives of the Indian tourism industry. The program will include a familiarization tour of Uzbekistan's historical cities for Indian travel agencies, alongside B2B meetings designed to establish direct business contacts and showcase national tourism infrastructure.

Air connectivity expansion is another pillar of the promotion strategy. On 7 September 2026, the Tourism Committee, in partnership with private airline Centrum Air, will hold a roadshow in Hyderabad, India. A new direct flight connecting Hyderabad and Tashkent is scheduled to launch on 28 September 2026, operating twice weekly.

The initiative comes amid sustained growth in travel demand from India. National Statistics Committee data shows Indian tourist visits to Uzbekistan increased from 45,500 in 2023 to 70,600 in 2024, reaching 80,900 visits in 2025. Between 2022 and 2025, visitor numbers from India expanded by nearly 1.8 times, making India the ninth-largest source market for inbound tourism to Uzbekistan by the end of 2025.

Kyrgyzstan led inbound tourist visits to Uzbekistan in 2025 with 3.3 million trips, followed by Tajikistan and Kazakhstan with 2.7 million visits each.