00:03From expanding flight networks to new tourism experiences, Uzbekistan is transforming how visitors reach and explore the country as international
00:13arrivals continue to rise.
00:15This is Business Line Uzbekistan. Hello and welcome.
00:20Uzbekistan is seeing a sharp rise in international tourism. According to UN tourism, international arrivals were up 37% year
00:29-on-year in the first quarter of 2026, placing the country among the world's fastest-growing destinations.
00:36National figures show the scale of that growth.
00:40Around 7.7 million international visitors arrived in the first seven months of the year, followed by another 1.4
00:48million in August alone.
00:50Uzbekistan has also taken steps to make travel easier. Citizens of more than 90 countries can now enter visa-free,
00:57while travelers from other eligible countries can apply for an electronic visa online.
01:03Air connectivity has grown, too. According to Flight Connections, scheduled flights currently connect Uzbekistan with 107 airports in 40 countries,
01:14with services operated by 45 airlines.
01:18But the numbers tell only part of the story. Behind this growth are changes in how Uzbekistan is developing its
01:26tourism sector and welcoming visitors.
01:28Let's take a closer look at what is happening on the ground.
01:32Samarkand is one of Uzbekistan's best-known Silk Road destinations. Its international airport handled 1.5 million passengers in 2025.
01:43Three times its 2022 total.
02:05It's modern terminal opened in 2022, providing additional capacity for passengers.
02:12As Uzbekistan looks to attract more international visitors,
02:15Infrastructure like this airport is becoming an important part of the country's tourism expansion.
02:20Across Uzbekistan, new accommodation facilities added more than 22,000 beds in the first seven months of 2026.
02:29Exports of tourism services reached nearly $3.9 billion.
02:34The government also subsidizes qualifying charter flights and selected tourism start-ups.
02:40The new Jiroli Danman Guberta train has cut the Tashkent-Hiva journey from 14 hours to 7 and a half.
02:47Today, we are providing service for more than 10 cities in Uzbekistan for high-speed trains, which we are going
02:54to increase year by year.
02:56One of these projects is a dedicated rail line for the passengers from Tashkent to Samarkand with a speed limit
03:04up to 300 kilometers per hour.
03:06But visitors also judge destinations by the services they receive.
03:10For others, feeling safe is just as important.
03:23After visiting Uzbekistan, I felt all the time very secure.
03:27I think the security is my last problem in Uzbekistan, feeling everywhere free.
03:33As tourism grows, Uzbekistan is also looking beyond its established destinations,
03:39developing new attractions and experiences to bring visitors to more parts of the country.
03:44Joining us now is Laibek Hakimov, advisor to the chairman of Uzbekistan's tourism committee.
03:50Mr. Hakimov, what measures is Uzbekistan taking to make the country easier and more appealing to travel to?
03:56The people of Uzbekistan call, Usymalan, Caribbean, nationalism and ECUZE were organized.
04:00The country has been on the street in Uzbekistan.
04:00In Zimbabwe, there are the people of Uzbekistan,ыпlan.
04:06The people of Uzbekistan, in Jizimano and Monar,
04:12the people of Uzbekistan, the people of Uzbekistan,
04:12the lands of Uzbekistan and the local tribes took advantage of the Kerouk.
04:16We can get the peace where they live.
04:20The people of Uzbekistan and the kыс is Usymalan,
04:22the people of Uzbekistan or the kыс is Usymalan,
04:24the Zimbabwe in Arizona are expected to bring out the Zimbabwek.
04:25The Usymalan bees this is the official,
04:47Gracias por ver el video.
04:49Gracias por ver el video.
04:49Bueno, eso es todo.
04:50Tenemos tiempo para esta edición.
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