Uzbekistan's tourism sector grew by 24.3% as of July 1, 2026

The tourist flow to Uzbekistan has significantly increased since the beginning of the year: during the period from January to July, the country welcomed over 7.749 million foreign citizens. This figure exceeds the numbers for the same period in 2025 by 1.4 million people, which represents a growth of 22.6%.

According to information from the National Committee on Statistics, the majority of visitors arrived from neighboring countries. Kyrgyzstan topped the list of donor countries, gathering 2.18 million guests over seven months. Kazakhstan took second place with 1.86 million tourists, and Tajikistan was third, registering 1.73 million visits.

Russia also became one of the key destinations for foreign tourists, with 710.8 thousand Russians arriving in the country. Among other visiting countries, there were arrivals of 281.2 thousand tourists from Afghanistan, 269.7 thousand from China, 192.8 thousand from Turkmenistan, and 111.9 thousand from Turkey. The top ten leaders are rounded out by India with 32.5 thousand and the Republic of Korea with 26.5 thousand tourists.

Furthermore, Uzbekistan decided to update the concept of national souvenirs to make them more modern, convenient, and attractive to visitors. To achieve this goal, the Uzbek Gift Contest started, which is designed to encourage designers and artisans to create new products that combine traditional crafts with current ideas.

According to data from the National Agency for Advanced Projects (NAPP), Uzbekistan's insurance market demonstrated positive dynamics across all key indicators during the first half of 2026. These indicators include insurance premiums, payouts, the number of active policies, and the charter capital of insurance companies.

In the first six months of 2026, the total number of active insurance policies reached 13.1 million, which is 14.9% higher than the figure for the same period last year. Meanwhile, insurance premiums increased by 28.6%, amounting to 8 trillion soms.

The charter capital of insurance organizations grew by 37.2%, reaching 4.3 trillion soms. The most significant growth was noted in the area of insurance payouts, which increased by 81.3% to 2.3 trillion soms.

The total value of insurers' liabilities by the end of the first half of 2026 reached 4,421.3 trillion soms, demonstrating a growth of 48.4% compared to the previous year.

At the beginning of the first half of 2026, 35 insurance companies were operating in the Uzbek market. Among them, 27 engaged in general insurance, seven specialized in life insurance, and one company operated exclusively in the reinsurance sector.

Additionally, there were 10 insurance brokers, seven actuarial specialists with professional certificates, and 3,684 insurance agents in the country.

Uzbekistan has taken the first place in Central Asia for tourism development rates, according to a report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC). Overall, Central Asia is recognized as the fastest-growing tourist region in the world.

The Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research 2026 study showed record dynamics in the region across several key indicators, with Uzbekistan acting as the main driver of this growth, taking leading positions in all major metrics.

In 2025, the share of tourism in the Central Asian economy increased by 17.7%, and the direct contribution of the industry grew by 19.6%. The volume of tourism service exports reached $9.9 billion, which is 26.4% more than the previous year, marking the best result among all global regions. Furthermore, Uzbekistan contributed almost half of this amount, exporting tourism services worth $4.8 billion.

According to the WTTC, Uzbekistan has become the most sought-after destination among residents of the region, accounting for 25% of all trips. Other countries in the region showed the following results: Kazakhstan — 23%, Kyrgyzstan — 18%, Russia — 16%, and Turkey — 6%.

Experts attribute this success to the rich historical and cultural heritage and the growing interest in domestic tourism in Central Asia. The concept of forming a unified tourist space is also actively discussed, which could help increase the number of foreign visitors by simplifying borders, developing air transport, and creating common routes.

The report emphasizes the significant potential of such a unified space. Improving infrastructure, air transport, and borders can substantially boost the tourist flow from around the world. Structurally, foreign tourists accounted for two-thirds of all expenditures, while domestic tourists made up 35.7%. Most trips are recreational: 84.5% of expenses are for leisure, and only 15.5% are for business visits.

WTTC forecasts suggest that by 2036, the contribution of tourism to the Central Asian economy will nearly triple, reaching $29.7 billion. Additionally, Uzbekistan's authorities are tightening control in the industry: tour operators engaged in outbound tourism are required to reserve at least $50,000 in a special fund upon obtaining a license to ensure citizen protection in case of travel problems.