Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan join forces to promote Central Asia as a unified destination

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are stepping up cooperation to present Central Asia as a single, seamless destination for international travellers. Tourism officials from both countries met in Dushanbe on 24 September, with Uzbekistan Tourism Committee Deputy Chairman Sanjar Tajiyev in talks with Nurbol Baizhanov, chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports, according to Trend.Az.

The discussions covered a broad agenda: expanding tourist exchanges in both directions, developing interregional and cross-border tourism products, and jointly promoting Central Asia in markets further afield — including Europe, East Asia and the Middle East.

One of the most traveller-friendly ideas being worked up is a framework of structured weekend tour packages that would let visitors easily explore highlights of the neighbouring country: Kazakhstan’s Turkistan spiritual heritage and Mangystau’s dramatic landscapes sit naturally alongside Uzbekistan’s legendary Silk Road cities. With weekly flights between the two countries already running at 70 — up 40 percent year-on-year — the logistical foundations for these corridors are firmly in place.

The two sides also agreed to coordinate their presence at the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair — Tourism on the Silk Road (TITF-2026), scheduled for 25–27 November 2026, with Kazakhstan invited to join with a national pavilion. For anyone planning a Central Asian itinerary that spans both countries, the direction of travel for the region has never looked more promising.