By Mewati Sitaram
Uzbekistan Tourism, capitalizing on the remarkable tourism growth from the previous year, is laying out an ambitious development plan, with a special emphasis on India as a key emerging market. To deepen this partnership, Uzbekistan’s Tourism Minister Umid Shadiev recently travelled to India to enhance collaboration between the tourism industries of both countries.
Minister Shadiev, leading a delegation of top Uzbek tourism stakeholders, participated in the 32nd edition of South Asia’s largest tourism fair, SATTE, held in New Delhi. He attended as the event’s Guest of Honour, emphasizing the importance of this visit for advancing tourism relations between the two countries. “We want to take our tourism partnership with India to the next level, and this visit, along with our participation at SATTE 2025, lays the foundation for that commitment,” Shadiev remarked.
Despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Uzbekistan has seen impressive growth in foreign tourist arrivals over the past seven years, with numbers soaring from 2.7 million in 2017 to 8.2 million in 2024. The tourism sector’s contribution to the nation’s GDP has increased by over 500% during this period. As part of its ‘Uzbekistan – 2030’ vision, the country aims to further enhance tourism, attract investment, and create jobs to drive national growth.
Speaking at SATTE, Shadiev highlighted India’s potential as a major tourism source market for Uzbekistan. “This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the cultural relevance and shared values that make India such an attractive market for us. My goal is to triple the number of Indian visitors to Uzbekistan by 2030,” he stated. He also noted that Uzbekistan’s infrastructure is well-suited to cater to the needs of Indian families, who often travel in extended groups.
The Minister further shared that Indian passport holders are eligible for an e-visa, and he expressed hope that India would soon be added to the list of countries eligible for visa-free travel to Uzbekistan. “With support from airlines, there’s a huge, unmet demand for flights, and we are actively encouraging new airlines to open routes to Uzbekistan,” he said.
Shadiev also emphasized the historical ties between Uzbekistan and India, dating back to the Silk Road era, and shared a personal connection to India through the legacy of Emperor Babur, who founded the Mughal Dynasty. “When I see monuments like Humayun’s Tomb, I feel at home, as there is a continuity in architectural style,” he reflected.
In addition to Uzbekistan’s rich cultural heritage, the Minister highlighted the country’s growing winter sports industry, modern ski resorts, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and vast national parks that offer fantastic opportunities for adventure tourism. He believes these offerings, along with Uzbekistan’s short flight time, cleanliness, and safety, make it an ideal destination for Indian tourists, especially families, couples, and groups of friends.
Editor in Chief : Mewati SItaram
