Euronews Travel: visitors to Uzbekistan now spend more and explore far beyond the Silk Road

On 15 September 2026, Euronews Travel published a feature titled “Beyond the Silk Road: Visitors stay longer, spend more and venture further across Uzbekistan” — one of Europe’s most widely read travel platforms shining an extended spotlight on a destination it describes as being in genuine transformation.

The article reports that the average international visitor to Uzbekistan now spends $503 per trip, compared with just $197 in 2017. That three-fold rise in per-visitor spending reflects a shift in the type of traveller the country is attracting: guests who choose longer itineraries, step off the main heritage trail, and engage with Uzbekistan’s full range of landscapes and traditions.

While the blue-tiled monuments of Samarkand, the trading domes of Bukhara, and the walled old city of Khiva remain the country’s most recognisable draws, the piece notes that a growing share of international travellers is now exploring mountain valleys, remote desert edges, regional food culture, and contemporary urban life in cities such as Tashkent, Namangan and Andijan.

The feature also highlights a recent international recognition: Uzbekistan ranked fifth in Much Better Adventures’ 2026 global list of the best destinations for solo adventure travel, assessed on safety, visa accessibility, hiking opportunities, costs and traveller feedback — placing it alongside established favourites such as Italy, Japan and Portugal.

For travellers who have been watching the country from a distance, the Euronews coverage is a timely reminder: the Silk Road is still unmissable, but Uzbekistan now has much more to offer.