Representatives of the tourism industries of Uzbekistan and Mauritius discussed cooperation and joint projects in Tashkent, according to the Tourism Administration of Uzbekistan. Direct air communication between Tashkent and Mauritius will be launched for the first time on December 26, 2026.
The bilateral dialogue took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Tashkent, initiated by the Uzbek company Prestige Travel in partnership with the Tourism Administration. Representatives of leading Mauritian tourism companies and hotel brands, as well as Uzbek tour operators, participated in the event.
In the initial phase, airlines will operate four flights on the Tashkent-Mauritius-Tashkent route. The first flight is scheduled for December 26, and the other three are scheduled for January 2027. Starting in June of the following year, a transition to a regular schedule providing one flight per week is expected.
The launch of the direct route is viewed as an opportunity for Uzbekistan's tourism industry to enter a new market. Furthermore, Tashkent could become a transit point for passengers from Central Asian and CIS countries traveling to Mauritius. Specifically, flights via Tashkent could potentially attract tourists from Kazakhstan, Russia, and other CIS countries.
The founder of Prestige Travel, Oibek Akhmedov, noted that the new flights should contribute to increasing mutual tourist flows and help establish Mauritius as a new destination for travelers from Uzbekistan. According to Akhmedov, a significant part of the population of Mauritius belongs to the Indo-Muslim community, which opens up prospects for the development of pilgrimage and gastronomic tourism.
In this regard, Uzbek tour operators can develop special tourism products for guests from Mauritius, including trips to the historical and cultural sites of Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Tashkent, as well as to the shrines of Islamic civilization and opportunities to experience national Uzbek cuisine.
The new air connection is being launched as part of the 'Open Tourist Season' program, which is held annually from June to August starting in 2026. This program provides financial support to participants in the tourism market. Airlines opening new routes receive a subsidy of 100 US dollars for each foreign tourist they attract, as well as a 20% discount on airport services. Local tour operators are entitled to a subsidy of 5000 US dollars for every 1000 tourists arriving from countries outside the immediate vicinity.
