Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan received more than 5.35 million foreign tourists in the first five months of 2026, marking a 27.3% increase compared with the same period last year, according to tourism development data.
The growth in tourist arrivals is attributed to ongoing reforms in recent years aimed at accelerating the development of tourism as one of the country’s strategic economic sectors. Particular attention has been given to increasing the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product, creating new jobs and boosting economic activity in the regions.
One of the key factors behind the increase has been the simplification of entry conditions for foreign citizens. A visa-free regime currently applies to citizens of many countries, while the electronic visa system has been significantly expanded, improving the country’s attractiveness on the international tourism market.
In May alone, more than 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan. In total, 5.352 million foreign visitors arrived between January and May, which is 1.148 million more than in the same period of 2025.
Authorities are also continuing to promote the country’s tourism potential internationally, with a focus on cultural and historical heritage as well as pilgrimage, ecological, gastronomic, medical and mountain tourism. The national tourism brand is being promoted through international exhibitions, tourism fairs, foreign media and digital platforms.
During the reporting period, Uzbekistan’s tourism service exports amounted to US$2.244 billion. The figure reflects the growing role of tourism in generating foreign currency inflows, developing the services sector and increasing employment.
Uzbekistan Tourism Arrivals Rise 27.3% in Jan-May 2026
Askar Yakubov
Askar Yakubov is a professional photojournalist with extensive experience in news and reportage photography. He specializes in fast-paced coverage of social, political, cultural, international, business, and community events, with a sharp eye for capturing expressive shots and conveying the atmosphere of an event under tight time constraints. His skill set spans reportage, portrait, and documentary photography, along with image editing and color correction, and preparing photo materials for media and digital platforms. He is known for his professionalism, adherence to editorial standards, and ability to work both independently and as part of a shooting team.
