Uzbekistan welcomes over 6.5 million international visitors in first half of 2026

More than 6.5 million international tourists visited Uzbekistan between January and June 2026, according to figures reported by Xinhua on July 15. That result marks a 24.9% rise compared with the same period last year — a growth rate that stands well above global tourism averages.

The momentum was visible even earlier in the year: the World Tourism Barometer published by UN Tourism placed Uzbekistan among the world’s five fastest-growing tourist destinations in the first quarter of 2026, with arrivals up 37% at a time when global international travel grew by just 2%.

For travelers weighing their next destination, these numbers speak to a country that is turning heads for all the right reasons — stunning heritage, warm hospitality, broadening air connections, and a tourism industry that is investing quickly to welcome more visitors every year.