ISLAMABAD (MNN); Uzbekistan’s initiative to establish a “Central Asia Tourism Ring” is opening new avenues for regional cooperation by creating a unified tourism space connecting the countries of Central Asia and promoting their shared historical and cultural heritage.
The initiative was proposed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in May 2026 during the Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank. It aims to bring together the region’s historic Silk Road cities, rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes and centuries-old traditions into integrated multi-destination tourism routes.
Central Asia offers significant potential for cultural and heritage tourism, pilgrimage tourism, gastronomy, ecotourism, adventure tourism, ethnographic tourism and medical tourism. According to the initiative, improvements in tourism infrastructure, service standards, visa and transport policies, and traveler safety are helping strengthen the region’s appeal to international visitors.
Uzbekistan has emerged as an important tourism hub in the region. The number of foreign visitors to the country has increased sixfold over the past decade, with 11.7 million international visitors recorded in 2025.
The proposed tourism ring is also expected to expand cooperation beyond Central Asia by connecting countries historically linked to the region through the Great Silk Road. Uzbekistan’s growing tourism partnership with Azerbaijan is cited as a successful example of such cooperation.
The two countries have maintained an institutional framework for tourism cooperation since signing an intergovernmental agreement in 1996. Their cooperation was further strengthened through the 2024–2026 Tourism Action Plan between Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee and Azerbaijan’s State Tourism Agency.
On April 4, 2025, the National PR Centre of Uzbekistan and the Azerbaijan Tourism Board signed a memorandum of understanding in Samarkand to jointly promote Silk Road tourism routes through the “Joint Silk Road Highlights Tour” project.
The initiative combines the tourism potential of both countries into a single travel experience covering the historic cities of Baku, Shamakhi, Sheki, Khiva, Bukhara and Samarkand.
The joint tourism routes are being promoted through international webinars, roadshows, business-to-business meetings and presentations for tourism industry representatives.
A major practical step came in October 2025 with the joint “Highlights of the Silk Road” roadshow in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Spain. Tourism companies from both countries held B2B meetings with European partners and explored opportunities for combined tour packages, while cultural events highlighted the traditions and heritage of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
The cooperation has also produced measurable results. From January to May 2026, the number of Azerbaijani visitors to Uzbekistan increased by more than 80 percent compared with the same period in 2025.
Tourism authorities from both countries continue to cooperate through international exhibitions, industry forums, official visits, familiarization tours for media and tourism professionals, and joint cultural and gastronomic programmes.
Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan also plan to expand joint Silk Road tourism routes, strengthen professional exchange programmes, cooperate in tourism education and capacity building, and jointly promote their tourism potential in third-country markets.
The Central Asia Tourism Ring initiative reflects Uzbekistan’s policy of openness, partnership and regional connectivity. It is expected to support the development of multi-destination tourism, strengthen international cooperation and promote the shared heritage of the Great Silk Road while creating new opportunities for sustainable tourism development.
