A new stage in tourism: visa-free regime in 2025, 15.8 million tourists and "travel days"

The presidential decree “On measures to increase the role and importance of tourism in the economy by sharply increasing the flow of tourists and rapidly expanding the scope of tourist services in 2025-2026” was adopted, aimed at fully utilizing the potential of tourism in Uzbekistan and sharply increasing the share of the sector in the economy.

In accordance with the decree, the following main target indicators for the tourism sector by the end of 2025 were set:

• Attracting 15.8 million foreign tourists to the regions of the republic, bringing the export of tourism services to 4 billion US dollars;
  
• Organizing trips to the regions for 40 million local tourists through domestic tourism;
  
• Launching the activities of 378 additional tour operators.
  

New visa-free regime

Starting June 1, 2025, citizens of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the State of Kuwait, and the Sultanate of Oman will be able to travel to Uzbekistan without a visa for 30 days from the moment of arrival. This new step is expected to further activate tourism relations with neighboring and Arab countries.

New initiatives to promote tourism

The decree also outlined a number of important initiatives to promote and popularize tourism:

• Regional programs for the development of tourism for the coming year will be developed by November 30 of each year;
  
• International Tourism Week will be held in the 3rd week of November of each year;
  
• Starting June 2025, the second Saturday and Sunday of each month will be designated as “Family and Group Travel Days” and will be held within the framework of the “Travel around Uzbekistan!” program.
  

From the editorial staff of Zamin.uz:
This decree is expected to be an important step not only in developing tourism potential, but also in popularizing culture and travel among the population. How do you assess these initiatives? Which region are you planning to travel to? Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!