Uzbekistan and Turkey deepen tourism ties with new cultural and connectivity projects

Uzbekistan and Turkey are deepening one of Central Asia’s most active tourism partnerships. Uzbekistan Tourism Committee Chairman Abdulaziz Akkulov met Turkey’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy on 24 September, with both sides mapping out new directions for bilateral cooperation, as reported by Trend.Az and UzDaily.

Turkey is already one of Uzbekistan’s most important source markets, accounting for over 15 percent of all foreign arrivals in 2026. The September meeting aimed to build further on that momentum, with discussions spanning hotel investment across Uzbekistan’s regions, expanded air connectivity between the two countries, and the transfer of Turkish expertise in destination management and digital tourism technologies.

Among the standout cultural initiatives on the table: transforming historic Uzbek caravanserais in Turkey into dedicated tourism and cultural centres that tell the story of Uzbekistan’s Silk Road heritage to Turkish visitors. Joint media projects — including programmes focused on pilgrimage tourism, the legacy of Imam Bukhari, and the International Islamic Civilisation Centre in Tashkent — are also being developed for Turkish-speaking audiences.

At the industry level, both countries agreed to hold a session of the Uzbekistan–Turkey Joint Tourism Commission on the sidelines of the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF-2026), set for 25–27 November 2026, with Turkey invited to participate with a national pavilion. For travellers drawn to the intersection of Islamic heritage, ancient bazaars and legendary hospitality, these two destinations are quietly becoming the most natural of companions.