Uzbekistan’s tourism services exports rose 51.2% to $5.3 billion in the first nine months of 2026 as the government offered seasonal incentives for new air routes to bring more travelers into the country.
The Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan reported the export figure for January through September. The National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan counted 10,306,786 foreign arrivals for tourism purposes in that period, up 20.4% from a year earlier. The count measures trips, meaning a repeat visitor can be recorded more than once.
Those trips do not all represent leisure travel. Visits to relatives made up 67.3% of inbound tourist trips in 2025, while recreation and leisure accounted for 16.5%, according to the statistics committee.
A June 10, 2026, presidential resolution established an annual “Open Tourism Season” from June through August. During that period, an airline opening an eligible route to Uzbekistan can receive $100 for each foreign tourist it carries into the country, along with a 20% reduction in airport service charges.
Resident tour operators can qualify for $5,000 per 1,000 visitors from qualifying foreign markets, subject to the approved list. The resolution also provides for a refund of half the value-added tax on tour operator and hotel services. Payments to airlines and tour operators come from the state budget.
Transport and entry measures extend beyond the seasonal incentives. Uzbekistan Railways said its Jaloliddin Manguberdi train, which began running between Tashkent and Khiva in May 2026, cut the trip to seven hours and 30 minutes from 14 hours. A reciprocal visa waiver with China took effect June 1, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. It permits stays of up to 30 days per visit, with a limit of 90 days in any 180-day period.
The Tourism Committee said 705 accommodation facilities with 22,296 beds were added from January through July. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has set 2030 goals of 20 million foreign visitors annually, tourism accounting for 7% of gross domestic product and more than $8 billion in tourism services exports. The June resolution directs officials to pursue additional international flight routes by the end of 2026.
