Tourism in Uzbekistan

Tourist activities in Uzbekistan range from outdoor activities, such as rock-climbing, to exploration of its archeological and religious history. The Statistical Internet Survey conducted between May 7 and August 27, 2008, found that the majority of those surveyed (39%) visit Uzbekistan due to interest in its architectural and historical sites. The next-largest group (24%) visited Uzbekistan to observe its culture, way of life, and customs.

In 2019, 6.75 million tourists visited Uzbekistan. The industry earned a total of $1.68 billion. The tourism industry has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with both tourist numbers and revenue dropping heavily. Each autumn, the Uzbek travel industry holds an International Tourism Fair.

Uzbekistan is located on the Great Silk Road, and many neighboring countries (including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) promote their countries based on their location along the Great Silk Road. The World Tourism Organization's Silk Road Office was opened in 2004 in Samarkand. This office was commissioned to coordinate the efforts of international organizations and national tourism offices of countries located on the Silk Road. Uzbekistan is a member of The Region Initiative, which is an umbrella organization for tourism-related entities across South Asia, Central Asia, Caucasus, and Eastern Europe which is also by Armenia, Bangladesh, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Tajikistan, Russia, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Ukraine.

Visitors by countries
Visitors arriving to Uzbekistan were from the following countries of nationality:

Mountaineering, hiking and rock-climbing
The southeast portion of the country contains the western ends of the Tien Shan mountains, which attract active forms of tourism such as mountaineering and rock climbing. Most well known for its ease of access from Tashkent is the Greater Chimgan Peak (3,309 m) of the Chatkal Range. This place serves as a starting point for many routes of hiking, climbing, horse riding, mountain skiing, and hang-gliding. Uzbekistan has multiple ski and mountain resorts, including Chimgan, which was constructed during the Soviet era, and Amirsoy, which opened in 2019. Both resorts are open for visitors to enjoy during seasons other than winter.

Architectural and historical sights
Samarkand with its Registan, Bibi-Khanym Mosque, Gur-Emir and Shah-i-Zinda, Bukhara with its Po-i-Kalyan Complex, Ark citadel, Samanid Mausoleum and Lyabi Khauz Ensemble, and Khiva with its intact inner city, Ichan Kala, mosques, madrasahs, minarets, walls, and gates, are sites of tourism.

The historical center of Samarkand is a World Heritage Site. Samarkand is home to cultural and architectural landmarks that are preserved as works of Islamic art and architecture. The necropolis of Shah-i-Zinda is a popular tourist attraction. The general conference of UNESCO accepted the decision of inclusion in the list of anniversaries celebrating the 2750th anniversary of Samarkand.

Tashkent contains sights such as the Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin, Bobo, the Sheihantaur and Mausoleum of Zangiata.

Tourism in Khorezm Province and Karakalpakstan
Ancient Khiva is one of the three most important tourism centers in Uzbekistan. The territory of the Khorezm Province and Karakalpakstan is contains many natural, historic, architectural, and archaeological sites. The Khorezm Province itself possesses nearly 300 historic monuments. One point of interest is the Savitsky Museum in the town of Nukus, which houses a collection of avant-garde art. The museum also has regional collection. A number of ecological tours are organized to the ship cemetery located in the Muynak area along what was once the coastline of the Aral Sea.

In 2005, Khorezm was visited by 43,000 tourists, of whom 19,700 were foreigners. The majority came from France, Germany, Israel, Great Britain, Australia, and Japan. Khiva's visitors were mostly at the age of 50–70 (46%); about 21% of tourists were of the age 30–40. 32% of the visitors to Khorezm were independent travelers who received visa support from local travel agencies.

Wildlife areas in the desert and other attractions on nomadic ways
There is a Kyzyl Kum nature reserve at the flood-land (tugai) drained by the Amu-Darya which has many species of rare animals. In addition, there are many kinds of water birds that migrate the Aral Sea and make their homes around the lake. The region of Aydar Lake allows for tourists to fish, yurt and camel-back ride.

Another reserve Djeyran is located 40km south of Bukhara.

Another point of interest is Sarmishsay, a gorge located on the southern slopes of the Karatau mountain range, 30–40 km to the northeast of the city of Navoi (Kermine) in Uzbekistan. The area is famous for various ancient monuments of anthropogenic activity concentrated in an area of about 20 km2. This includes flint quarries, mines, old settlements, burial mounds, crypts and petroglyphs, including monuments of the Middle Ages, early Iron Age, Bronze Age and the Stone Age. There are over 4,000 petroglyphs still intact in Sarmishsay. Since ancient times the area has been a sacred zone, where locals performed their sacred ceremonies on holy days.

Religious tourism
Uzbekistan is a country with predominantly Islamic roots. More than 160 Muslim sacred relics are located in the country.

Uzbekistan has numerous sites of significant importance to Islam, including the Mausoleum of Sheikh Zaynudin Bobo, Sheihantaur, the Mausoleum of Zangiata in Tashkent, the Bahauddin Complex in Bukhara, the Bayan-Quli Khan Mausoleum, Saif ed-Din Bokharzi Mausoleum, and many other Sufism-related monuments.

Accessibility of the country
Most travel involves entering and leaving Uzbekistan through Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan. The city is serviced by an international airport, a domestic airport, two Vokzals (railway stations), and numerous bus stations. Tashkent is serviced by Uzbekistan Airways, Korean Air, airBaltic, Asiana Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Transaero, Aeroflot, Czech airlines, Iran air, air Astana, S7 airlines. Seven more airports have international status, these airports are Samarkand, Bukhara Urgench Namangan Airport, Andizhan Airport, Fergana Airport and Nukus Airport. Besides local flights and some regular international flights, almost exclusively to Russia, along with occasional tourist charters to Samarkand, Bukhara, Nukus and Urgench. The tickets for domestic flights can be reserved or purchased outside of the country at Uzbekistan Airways offices or agencies or via a number of online websites. Uzbekistan Airways transported more than 1.7 million passengers in 2005.

At the end of 2005, the Tashkent airport had put in operation a new arrival hall for local airlines, with the addition meeting modern requirements. Its technical equipment allows it to serve up to 600 passengers per day.