Aziz Mirdalijov, Head of Marketing at the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan
At the Uzbekistan pavilion, the message was clear: India is fast emerging as a key priority market for Uzbekistan’s growing tourism ambitions. Speaking to the media, Aziz Mirdalijov, Head of Marketing at the Tourism Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, outlined the country’s strategy to deepen tourism ties with India, strengthen connectivity, and diversify travel offerings.
Deep Historical Ties and Close Connectivity
“We’re here to represent Uzbekistan and promote it as a destination,” said Mirdalijov. “The ties between India and Uzbekistan go back centuries. Our people have lived upon the same lands and shared deep cultural connections.”
Highlighting geographical proximity, he pointed out that a flight from Delhi to Tashkent takes just about two hours — comparable to a domestic flight between Delhi and Mumbai. Currently, there are 13 direct flights per week between the two countries, though Mirdalijov acknowledged that this is “not enough” given the immense potential.
“Uzbekistan is becoming a transportation hub in Central Asia. We have the strongest connectivity in the region, and we are working with airlines and government stakeholders to further increase air links between our two countries,” he added.
Rapid Tourism Growth
Uzbekistan’s tourism growth story has been remarkable. In 2016, the country received approximately 2 million international visitors. Last year, that number surged to nearly 12 million.
“You can see the growth,” Mirdalijov said. “Tourism is a priority for our government and for His Excellency the President. We understand that tourism has huge potential in Uzbekistan.”
He emphasised that such growth requires coordinated efforts across sectors. “It’s not just tourism companies. It’s the government, multiple ministries, infrastructure developers, hospitality providers — it’s a big family working together.”
The country’s population stands at around 40 million, and accommodating a target of 20 million visitors in the future requires significant investments in hotels, transport, and services — investments that are currently underway.
India: A Strategic Focus
India has emerged as a priority target market. More than 30 million Indians travel abroad annually, and Uzbekistan aims to capture a larger share of this outbound segment.
Last year, Uzbekistan welcomed approximately 80,000 Indian visitors. For the current year, the Tourism Committee has set a target of at least 100,000 Indian arrivals.
“We believe India will become one of our key source markets,” said Mirdalijov. “We are working very closely with the private sector and tour operators to increase this flow year by year.”
Expanding Tourism Segments for Indian Travellers
While cultural tourism remains Uzbekistan’s core strength, the country is actively diversifying its offerings for Indian travellers.
Uzbekistan is home to over 8,000 historical sites, with 250 located in UNESCO World Heritage-listed cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, and Shakhrisabz. “Uzbekistan is a crossroads of world civilisations,” Mirdalijov said, reinforcing the country’s appeal for heritage tourism.
However, new segments are gaining traction:
- MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions)
- Wedding Tourism
- Cinema Tourism
- Wellness Tourism
- Educational Tourism
On the education front, Uzbekistan is already witnessing strong engagement, with a significant number of Indian students pursuing studies in the country.
Rise of MICE Infrastructure
MICE tourism is emerging as a strategic growth area. Uzbekistan has recently developed large-scale convention infrastructure to support this segment.
“We have two major convention centres — one in Tashkent and another in Samarkand,” he noted.
The Samarkand Tourist Centre is a flagship development featuring a Congress Centre, multiple five-star and four-star hotels, an exhibition centre, and the newly developed “Eternal City” complex.
“Thanks to these facilities, we are positioning ourselves as leaders in MICE tourism in Central Asia,” he said.
Visa Liberalisation and Hospitality Partnerships
To make travel easier for Indian tourists, Uzbekistan is working on visa liberalisation and expanding hospitality partnerships.
“We are working on improving infrastructure specifically for Indian tourists,” Mirdalijov shared. This includes collaborations with Indian hotel chains and the development of resort properties such as Amirsoy and other mountain and leisure destinations located about an hour from Tashkent International Airport.
The government is also focused on charter operations and seasonal pricing strategies to further stimulate demand.
Strong Engagement with Indian Travel Trade
Recognising the importance of trade partnerships, Uzbekistan has rolled out several initiatives for Indian travel agents and tour operators:
- Roadshows across Indian cities
- Familiarisation (FAM) trips to Uzbekistan
- Dedicated B2B platforms
- Educational webinars on Uzbekistan’s tourism offerings
“We invite Indian travel agents to visit Uzbekistan, see it with their own eyes, experience it, and then confidently sell the destination,” he said.
A Growing Global Footprint
While Central Asian neighbours remain the largest source markets, Uzbekistan has seen strong growth from Russia (around 1 million visitors last year), Europe, the United States, Southeast Asia, and Islamic countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Turkey.
Interest from East Asia — including China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand — is also rising, partly driven by Uzbekistan’s Buddhist heritage sites.
Looking Ahead
With strong government backing, expanding infrastructure, and focused engagement with the Indian travel trade, Uzbekistan is positioning itself as a high-potential short-haul international destination for Indian travellers.
“India is now a priority market for us,” Mirdalijov concluded. “We love India, and we hope the flow of tourists between our two countries will only increase year by year.”
