From the blue-tiled monuments of Samarkand to the old quarters of Bukhara and the walled city of Khiva, Uzbekistan’s Silk Road heritage remains the country’s most recognisable draw. But a growing number of international travellers are now discovering a country that extends well beyond its best-known historic cities.
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Uzbekistan recorded 9.1 million visits by foreign nationals in the first eight months of 2026, up 21.1% year on year, according to the country’s Tourism Committee.
Tourism services exports rose by 53.5% to $4.6bn (€3.98bn) over the same period.
But the headline arrival figure covers a broad mix of international travel, rather than holidaymakers alone. Uzbekistan’s statistics also count people visiting relatives, travelling for business and other purposes. In the same period of 2025, visits to relatives accounted for 5.17 million of the 7.5 million recorded arrivals, while 1.15 million were classified as travel.
The figures also offer a clearer picture of how much visitors spend and how long they stay.
Oybek Hakimov, adviser to the chairman of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, told Euronews that average spending per tourist has reached $503 (€436), compared with $197 (€171) in 2017. Surveys conducted in May and June also put the average stay at eight days.
“We are also seeing more visitors travelling beyond the classic route of Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva,” Hakimov said, pointing to growing interest in the Fergana Valley, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya, as well as Muynak and Nukus in Karakalpakstan.
Long-haul markets are growing
Some of the fastest growth is coming from markets further afield.
In the first eight months of 2026, arrivals from China increased 2.3-fold, Malaysia doubled and Japan rose 1.5-fold. Visitor numbers from Germany increased by 25%, while France and the United Kingdom were up 21%, according to the Tourism Committee.
Data from Uzbekistan’s National Statistics Committee show that the ‘travel’ category accounts for a large share of arrivals from some European markets. Of 26,100 German visitors recorded in the first seven months, more than 23,100 were travelling for that purpose. For Italy, the figure was 20,100 out of 21,000 visitors.
Hakimov also points to easier entry requirements as one factor supporting the growth. He said Uzbekistan’s visa-free regime now covers citizens of 94 countries, although permitted stays vary by nationality.
He cites China as one example. Following the introduction of reciprocal 30-day visa-free travel, Hakimov said the number of Chinese visitors recorded in 2025 was more than six times the 2023 level.
Uzbekistan has also gained attention in the adventure travel market, placing fifth in Much Better Adventures’ 2026 ranking of destinations for solo adventure travel. The ranking considers factors including safety, entry requirements, costs, hiking opportunities and traveller feedback.
Romanian traveller Cezar Marksteiner-Ungureanu knew little about Uzbekistan before deciding to visit. Even some of his friends questioned what there was to see.
“I wanted something completely new for myself,” he told Euronews. He began reading about the Silk Road and planned a journey through Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.
Once there, he said the experience challenged those expectations. “I felt very secure all the time. People are very welcoming and try to help us everywhere.”
For Tessa Bradford, another visitor to Uzbekistan, the attraction started with images of the country.
“I’ve done a lot of travelling, and I had heard that Uzbekistan was really beautiful, really fun to travel,” she told Euronews. “The pictures looked incredible, so I needed to come see it for myself.”
Beyond the classic Silk Road route
That broader travel pattern is also being supported by improved transport links.
The new Jaloliddin Manguberdi high-speed service between Tashkent and Khiva began operating in May, cutting the journey from around 14 hours to about seven and a half. By late July, the first train had carried almost 30,000 passengers.
Tourist Sabina Flandrick said getting around by rail had been straightforward.
“We got around by train, which was great,” she said, also praising the hotels, restaurants and service she encountered.
Qudrat Rajabov, manager of the Khiva Silk Road Hotel, also points to better air connections through nearby Urgench. He told Euronews that direct international flights into Urgench, together with the new rail service, were helping bring more visitors to the region”.
More hotels and more competition
Accommodation capacity is expanding too.
Between January and July 2026, 705 new accommodation facilities opened across the country, adding 22,296 beds. Uzbekistan now has 7,440 registered accommodation facilities with capacity for more than 202,000 guests.
At the Khiva Silk Road Hotel, capacity has also increased. The hotel opened in 2019 with 38 rooms and has since increased its capacity to 43. Manager Qudrat Rajabov says the hotel receives around 7,000 to 8,000 guests a year, with international visitors making up the larger share.
“Service comes first now,” he said. “Competition has become very strong and there are many hotels.”
He said the hotel is sending reception staff, chefs and waiters to professional training centres as businesses place greater emphasis on service standards.
