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Kazakhstan Listed as a Top Destination by Lonely Planet

Kazakhstan has been included in Lonely Planet's prestigious "Best in Travel 2025" ranking, earning it recognition as one of the year's best travel destinations. Lonely Planet, a leading international publisher, was established in 1973 and since then, has published comprehensive travel guides in 14 languages, covering 195 countries. Aimed to inspire people to explore the world, the organisation also publishes articles, lists, and rankings of the best places to visit, based on recommendations from experts and travelers and according to their unique cultures and natural diversity. Kazakhstan's high ranking in 'Best in Travel 2025', is largely attributed to its ancient traditions and modern achievements, and especially, its rich history and varied landscapes. Vice Minister of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerzhan Erkinbayev warmly welcomed the country's inclusion in the list as validation of the growing international interest in Kazakhstan and stated that it emphasised the importance of promoting sustainable tourism. Lonely Planet's executive editor, Nitya Chambers, said the publication is proud of its choice and confident that this list will inspire travelers to make new discoveries. In its description of Kazakhstan, Lonely Planet focuses on the intertwining of ancient traditions and modern culture, hailing the country a place where every visitor can discover something unique. The publication also mentions echoes of the ancient Silk Road, tangible in the vast steppes. Tourism in Kazakhstan has been actively developing in recent years, and the country is becoming increasingly popular among international travelers. Popular destinations include Almaty, Astana, and national parks. In the first six months of 2024 alone, 566,500 foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan, an increase of almost 10% compared to the same period in 2023. The demographics of foreign tourists is also on the rise. In the first quarter of this year, the average revenue of Kazakh companies working in the tourism sector - tour operators, travel agencies, and other organizations - increased five-fold. For January-March, it exceeded 160.3 billion tenge; the highest quarterly income indicator of tourism companies since the beginning of 2022. Kazakhstan's tourist potential has also been praised by other well-known travel publications. Earlier, “Conde Nast Traveler” and “Wanderlust” included Kazakhstan as one of the top world destinations for travel in 2024, and Almaty was included in a list of the 52 best tourist destinations issued by The New York Times.

Tourism travel Extreme Sports international tourism

Tajik Company Restores “Tatra Around the World” Expedition Bus

A minibus, involved in an accident in the Pamir Mountains during the "Tatra Around the World-2" expedition, is currently being repaired by a Tajik company. The accident occurred on August 5 , at 3,000 meters near the village of Tukhgoz in the Ishkashim district, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, when the minibus veered down a slope and got caught in trees. Fortunately, none of the nine tourists, rescued by residents and the Committee for Emergency Situations, were seriously injured. Eight members of the expedition returned home, whilst Marek Havricek remained with the vehicle in Tajikistan. The minibus is now at the Obi Zulol factory, which has pledged to undertake and finance its repair. As soon as the vehicle is roadworthy, Havricek plans to travel through Tajikistan's neighboring countries and return to Europe. Once home, he is considering displaying the restored vehicle in a museum. The “Tatra Around the World” project, founded in 1987-1990, aimed to show people the real world, as opposed to that promoted through the prism of media and propaganda, and over the past five years has comprised expeditions to the Czech Republic, Iran, North Africa, South and North America, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkmenistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The last expedition started in February 2020 and prior to the accident, the minibus, designed to accommodate 15 passengers, had covered over 175,000 kilometers through Europe, Africa, America, and Central Asia.

Economy Construction Infrastructure Development UAE international tourism tourism industry

Leading UAE Hotel Chain Explores Options in Uzbekistan

A world-famous chain of hotels in the UAE is exploring entering the Uzbekistan market. The announcement follows talks between Uzbek diplomats and Phillip Crouse, vice president of the United Arab Emirates' Jumeirah Group, and an introduction of the company's team to the recent reforms implemented in Uzbekistan, as well as programs and regulations to increase the country's tourist attractiveness, existing tourist routes, flights between the two countries, and hotels. Representatives were also presented with options to privatize or reconstruct large hotel complexes in the country. The entry of the Jumeirah brand into the Uzbekistan market will further increase the country's number of luxury hotels and enhance its ever-expanding tourist market. Over the past seven years, the number of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan has tripled, the volume of tourism services has increased fivefold, and the number of hotels and accommodation facilities has increased tenfold. Last year, more than 6.6 million tourists visited the country, providing a revenue of some 2.1 billion dollars, and according to recent reports, Uzbekistan aims to increase the number of foreign tourists to 15 million by 2030. Jumeirah, part of Dubai Holding, is a global luxury hotel company with 26 properties, including resorts, city hotels, and serviced residences across the Middle East, Europe, and Asia.

Tourism tourism industry international tourism Cultural Heritage Silk Road Economy

Uzbekistan Aims to Attract 15 Million Foreign Tourists by 2030

In an article, “Uzbekistan Attracts More and More Foreign Tourists to the Country”, published on the popular online portal Tiger’s Media in Poland, Dunyo reports that Uzbekistan plans to increase the number of foreign tourists to 15 million by 2030. As stated by Tiger's Media, “this number is twice as much as the 6.6 million tourists who came to the country in 2023. In 2023, tourism brought about $2.1 billion to the economy and created about 70 thousand new jobs." The portal adds that “to attract the attention of young travelers, Uzbekistan is also attracting bloggers and social network activists with more than 10 million subscribers,” Uzbekistan is located on an important part of the ancient Silk Road. Cities of the republic, such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, important trade centers in ancient times, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, known for their architecture, including madrasahs, mosques, and bazaars. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that tourism revenue made up 2.35% of Uzbekistan’s GDP last year. Other countries in Central Asia are likewise looking to boost their tourism industry. In June, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke bluntly about infrastructure weaknesses that must be fixed. Kyrgyzstan, meanwhile, is focusing on its rugged, mountainous landscape, citing riding and hiking and “hunting with eagles” among its main attractions.

international tourism Civil Aviation Bilateral Cooperation Air Transport South Korea

Uzbekistan and South Korea Increase Flights Between Countries

During talks in Seoul this week, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport and South Korea’s civil aviation authority reached agreements to increase the number of regular flights between Uzbekistan and South Korea from the current 10 to 24 per week for airlines of each country, raising the total weekly number of flights to 48. According to the Uzbek ministry, airlines of both countries will operate up to 12 weekly flights between Tashkent and Seoul and up to four flights from South Korea’s regions to Tashkent. Up to four flights per week will be performed from Uzbekistan’s regions to Seoul, and there will be up to four weekly flights between Uzbekistan's regions and other South Korean cities. An agreement was also reached on the bilateral use of the Open Skies regime at the international airport of Jeju, the second-largest airport in South Korea, and Uzbekistan’s Samarkand airport for airlines of both countries. From the Uzbek side, flights between the two countries will be operated by the national air carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, and new airlines created by Uzbekistan — Qanot Sharq, My Freighter, and Air Samarkand. According to the Uzbek ministry, these agreements will help develop trade and economic relations between the two countries, increase bilateral passenger and cargo turnover, and attract Korean tourists to the historical cities of Uzbekistan. The Times of Central Asia earlier reported that South Korea is one of the most popular destinations for Uzbeks, both for work and studies. The Uzbeks occupy fifth place by size of the foreign diaspora in the country and number more than 69,000. In recent years, the government of Uzbekistan has established regulations for legal and safe labor migration to South Korea. At the start of 2024, the government announced its intention to attract 100,000 Uzbeks to work in South Korea.

international tourism tourism industry Turkey Tourism Issyk-Kul

Turkish Influencers to Help Open Kyrgyzstan to the World

A group of popular Turkish bloggers arrived in Kyrgyzstan on September 24 to promote the country’s tourism potential. Meeting the bloggers upon arrival at Bishkek’s Manas International Airport, the airport's chairman Manasbek Samidinov commented: “Today, famous bloggers from the Turkish Republic, followed by millions of subscribers, arrived in Kyrgyzstan. From September 24 to 27, they will get acquainted with our country, explore its natural and cultural attractions, and personally experience the warm hospitality of the Kyrgyz people. The bloggers will show Turkey the best of Kyrgyzstan: our unique nature, culture, and hospitality, contributing to tourism development and opening our country to the world.” On September 13, an agreement was signed to establish twinning relations between the Kyrgyz resort town of Cholpon-Ata by Lake Issyk-Kul and Turkey’s Antalya. The twinning relations between the two resort cities will open up new prospects for interaction in various areas, including investment in tourism and infrastructure projects. Kyrgyzstan is expected to receive more than 10.5 million foreign tourists in 2024, compared to 8.5 million tourists who visited the country in 2023. Around 6.1 million foreign tourists visited Kyrgyzstan in the first eight months of 2024. Most came tfrom Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, followed by visitors from Turkey, China, India, Germany, Pakistan, the United States, and South Korea. The tourism industry accounts for 2.7% of the country's GDP.