Uzbekistan - Travel and Tourism Uzbekistan-Travel-and-Tourism
Overview
Located in the heart of Central Asia, Uzbekistan is ready to expand its travel and tourism industry with its rich cultural and historical heritage, friendly people, and natural beauty. Two years ago, Uzbekistan President Mirziyoyev started ambitious liberalization reforms to unlock the country’s potential for international business, and he issued a clear message that developing tourism is among his major priorities. Recently the government granted 30-day visa free travel privileges for tourists from 65 countries and introduced a simplified electronic visa system for citizens of 77 countries, including the United States. The number of foreign travelers visiting Uzbekistan has grown rapidly from 1.9 million people in 2014 to 6.4 million in 2018. Meanwhile, the country currently lacks but urgently needs international class hotels in the Great Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva – the most remarkable tourism destinations in the region which attract many foreign tour groups.Uzbekistan has some of the best transportation infrastructure in the region. The railroad with its 150 km per 10,000 square kilometers density provides 4.3 billion passenger-kilometers services annually. The country operates the only high-speed train line in Central Asia. Uzbekistan’s national airline has a well-developed network of airports, including ten internationally operating airfields. The fleet currently consists of 36 aircraft, including 20 Boeings and 12 Airbuses. Uzbekistan Airways conducts Tashkent - New York - Tashkent direct flights three times per week.
2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 estimated | |
Total Local Production | 463 | 511 | 546 | 610 |
Total Exports | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total Imports | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Imports from the US | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Total Market Size* | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Exchange Rates** | 2,965 | 5,121 | 8,100 | 8,500 |
** Exchange Rates = Uzbek sums per $1
Units: $ millions
Source: The State Statistics committee of Uzbekistan. Data for 2019 was estimated by Post using company project implementation progress reports. Imports from the U.S. data is from the U.S. census bureau
Leading Sub-Sectors
The hotel industry has the greatest potential for international investors. Currently there are about 700 hotels in the country, but most of them are small private guesthouses. Four and five star hotels operated by major international brands are only available in Tashkent (where they are relatively few), while popular tourist destinations like Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva offer only locally managed facilities with lower quality services. According to officials of the Ministry of Finance, in 2019-2025 the government plans to invest about $3 billion in the tourism infrastructure and $500 million in construction of 196 hotels and resorts. International tourism to Uzbekistan is rapidly growing.Opportunities
For specific opportunities, businesses should contact companies involved in Uzbekistan’s tourism industry, including the State Tourism Development Committee. Local companies have experience working with foreign suppliers.Web ResourcesU.S. companies and individuals interested in learning more about upcoming procurements and export opportunities are encouraged to visit the following websites:
- State Tourism Development Committee: www.uzbektourism.uz/en
- UzReport Information Agency: www.uzreport.uz/
- Ministry of Investments and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan: www.mift.uz
- Government Portal of the Republic of Uzbekistan: www.gov.uz
- Uzexpocentre: www.uzexpocentre.uz
- ITE Uzbekistan Exhibition Company: www.ite-uzbekistan.uz
- U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan: www.uzbekistan.usembassy.gov/business.html