Uzbekistan tourism statistics. Photo: stat.uz.
Uzbek authorities plan to increase the number of tourists arriving from the United States, including by opening new consulates and expanding air connections between the two countries. The announcement was made by Uzbekistan’s ambassador to the United States, Furkat Sidikov, according to Gazeta.uz.
The diplomat recalled that beginning this year Uzbekistan introduced a visa-free regime for all U.S. citizens. According to him, about 25,000 American tourists visited the country in 2024, but after the visa rules were simplified the figure rose to 40,000.
“The trend is clear, and with the right approach this number can be increased significantly,” Sidikov said.
He noted that the opening of new Uzbek diplomatic missions in the United States would create additional opportunities to promote tourism. For the past 30 years, Uzbekistan has maintained only an embassy in Washington, D.C., and a consulate general in New York. Plans are now in place to open three additional consulates general: in Washington State and in the major cities of Chicago and San Francisco.
Sidikov added that Uzbekistan is currently the only Central Asian country with direct air links connecting the United States with the region and Europe. Flights operate five times a week, but the possibility of additional routes—potentially to Florida or California—is under consideration. Such expansion, he said, would also contribute to the growth of tourism.
The ambassador urged tour operators to develop products tailored specifically to American travelers, noting that the U.S. market is demanding and that standard, template-based offers often fail to resonate.
He also proposed creating travel packages for members of the Uzbek diaspora living in the United States. According to Sidikov, many young people from migrant families are losing their language skills and ties to their homeland. Special tours, he said, would encourage Uzbek families to bring their children to Uzbekistan and introduce them to Samarkand, Bukhara, and other historic cities.
Sidikov also highlighted strong potential for the development of educational and sports tourism.
He stressed that Uzbekistan is making concerted efforts to promote the country abroad and plans to increase funding for the international promotion of its tourism potential. As part of this strategy, cooperation is being established with prominent bloggers and media outlets. In particular, Sidikov said that National Geographic is currently collaborating with Uzbek partners and that a film crew is expected to visit Uzbekistan later this year to shoot a documentary about the country.
