Tashkent hosts major pilgrimage tourism exhibition, drawing 200+ tour operators

Tashkent’s Humo Arena welcomed more than 200 tour operators on June 27–28 for the 4th International “Umra Plus and Pilgrimage Tourism” Exhibition, according to the national news agency Dunyo.info and Uzbekistan’s tourism authorities.

The event showcased Uzbekistan’s growing “Umra Plus” program, which pairs traditional pilgrimage routes with cultural sightseeing in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara — letting visitors combine a spiritual journey with a look at the country’s Silk Road heritage. As part of the wider push to grow this niche, tour operators bringing travelers into the country under the program can currently receive a government subsidy for each visitor.

For travelers interested in faith-based or heritage tourism, the exhibition is a sign that Uzbekistan is actively building out dedicated routes and services in this space — meaning better-organized itineraries and more options are on the way for those wanting to pair a pilgrimage with a Silk Road adventure.