Uzbekistan rolls out subsidies, new routes and visa cuts to cash in on tourism surge

Uzbekistan recorded a historic 11.7 million international visitors in 2025 and a 37 % increase in arrivals during the first quarter of 2026, ranking it among the world’s fastest-growing tourism destinations. To translate this momentum into lasting economic benefits, officials launched a suite of financial incentives, including €89 subsidies per tourist for qualifying airlines, a 20 % discount on airport services and up to €4,460 per 1,000 visitors for tour operators, alongside support for charter flights and tourism start-ups.

Infrastructure projects feature a new terminal and automated systems at Samarkand International Airport, where passenger traffic has tripled since 2022, and a high-speed train that reduced the Tashkent-Khiva journey from 14 hours to seven and a half, with plans for a 300 km/h line between Tashkent and Samarkand. Visa reforms now permit visa-free entry for citizens of more than 90 countries and a reciprocal 30-day visa-free regime with China, which has already spurred a six-fold rise in Chinese tourists since 2023.

The strategy also promotes over 50 tourism villages, new mountain resorts and regional attractions to spread visitor spending across the country. The 2026-2030 tourism plan targets 20 million arrivals annually, a 7 % contribution of tourism to GDP and services exports of $6 billion, contingent on sustained demand and competitive offerings.