Insider’s View: Uzbekistan’s Competitiveness and Advantages in the SCO Tourism Market
In recent years, Uzbekistan has strengthened its position in the international tourism market, particularly in the region of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). From January to June 2025, the country welcomed over 5.3 million international tourists, more than double the figure of the previous year, while tourism service exports rose to $2.4 billion, marking a 164% increase. For the SCO member states, tourism serves as a driver of economic growth and an important tool for cultural exchange and diplomatic rapprochement. Uzbekistan stands out within the Organization thanks to its rich cultural heritage, modern infrastructure, and liberal visa policy. Uzbekistan’s historical landmarks provide the country with a significant competitive advantage within the SCO region. Cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva - all included on the UNESCO World Heritage List - have become major cultural magnets for tourists. These cities are home to hundreds of architectural monuments, mosques and madrasahs, traditional markets, and craft centers, offering travelers a truly unique experience. Building on this heritage, Uzbekistan has also expanded its hospitality sector. In the first half of 2025, Uzbekistan established 60 new hotels, 287 family guest houses, 146 hostels, and 24 other accommodation facilities - a total of 517 new establishments offering 12,800 additional beds. As a result, the total number of accommodation facilities reached 6,448, with overall capacity exceeding 170,000 beds. In recent years, Uzbekistan has actively cooperated with global hotel brands, with international chains such as Hilton, Intercontinental, Bentley, Bill Wyndham & Co., and Azimut implementing investment projects across various regions of the country. This has had a positive impact on both the quality of service and the level of trust from the international community. Additionally, 368 new tourism companies and travel agencies were established in the country, bringing the total number of tour operators to 4,052. Across the republic, 3,415 tour guides are currently active, with 215 new specialists trained in just the first half of this year. These developments have improved the quality of tourism services and significantly enhanced conditions for visitors to the country. Uzbekistan's visa policy is also one of the most progressive in the region. Today, citizens of more than 90 countries can enter the country visa-free, while an additional 56 countries have access to an electronic visa system. This has become a key factor in the growth of tourist arrivals. All of these measures have contributed to a significant increase in the number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan. In the first six months of 2025 alone, more than 4.3 million tourists from SCO member states visited the country, accounting for over 80% of all international visitors. Uzbekistan is also actively promoting its tourism image on the international stage. Cooperation is underway with global media companies such as World Media Group, Blue Sky, Sky One, Wanderlust, Euronews, the BBC, National Geographic, CNN, Travel Tomorrow, Warner Bros. Discovery, Saga Travel Group, as well as with online platforms like Ctrip.com, Holiday Factory, Voyage Privé, and others. In 2024, Uzbekistan participated in 22 international tourism exhibitions held in...
