Uzbekistan has become a leader in Central Asia in tourism growth — WTTC
The country earned $4.8 billion from the export of tourism services. This is equal to half of the region's indicator.
According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) report "Travel & Tourism Economic Impact Research 2026," in 2025, Central Asia became the fastest-growing region in the world in terms of tourism growth rates. The report notes that Uzbekistan ranked first among the region's countries in key tourism indicators.
The WTTC conducts its analysis by dividing the world into 13 major regions. According to the report, in 2025, the total contribution of tourism to the gross domestic product in Central Asia increased by 17.7 percent, while its direct contribution rose by 19.6 percent.
Additionally, tourism services exports in the region reached 9.9 billion US dollars, growing by 26.4 percent within one year. Nearly half of this figure is attributed to Uzbekistan. The report states that in 2025, the country exported tourism services worth 4.8 billion dollars.
According to WTTC data, Uzbekistan was also the most popular travel destination among Central Asian residents. While 25 percent of the region's tourists chose Uzbekistan, the following positions were held by Kazakhstan (23 percent), Kyrgyzstan (18 percent), Russia (16 percent), and Turkey (6 percent).
The organization explained Uzbekistan's leading position by the country's rich historical and cultural heritage as well as its high attractiveness for regional tourists. The report emphasized that there is great potential for forming a unified tourism space in Central Asia, and that simplifying borders, developing transport and air connections, as well as joint tourism routes, serve to further increase the flow of international tourists.
According to the report, in 2025, 64.3 percent of tourism-related expenditures were attributed to foreign tourists, while 35.7 percent were attributed to domestic tourists. Of the expenditures by foreign tourists, 84.5 percent were made for leisure purposes, and 15.5 percent for business purposes.
According to the WTTC forecast, by 2036, the total contribution of tourism to the Central Asian economy is expected to reach 29.7 billion US dollars.
