A media briefing dedicated to promoting the 'Umra+' pilgrimage tourism program was held in Kuala Lumpur with the support of the Uzbek embassy. The event was attended by the Uzbekistan Pilgrimage Association, 'Uzbekistan Airways' JSC, Malaysia's MATA, Bumitra, and PAPUH tourist associations, as well as local tour companies and media representatives. This was reported by Uzdaily.uz.
During the meeting, reforms being carried out to develop pilgrimage tourism in Uzbekistan and plans to increase the flow of pilgrims from Malaysia and Indonesia to 100,000 by 2026–2027 were presented. The conditions being created for pilgrims and the benefits intended for tour operators working in this direction were also discussed.
During the briefing, special attention was paid to cities like Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara, which hold significant importance in the history of Islamic civilization. The Islamic Civilization Center and the Imam al-Bukhari complex, established on the President's initiative, sparked great interest among the event participants.
Within the framework of the event, a memorandum of cooperation on the 'Umra+' program was signed between Uzbekistan's 'Umra' pilgrimage association and the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATA), and joint practical projects were launched. One of the main agreements is to hold an international exhibition on pilgrimage tourism in Malaysia and Uzbekistan in June 2026.
MATA Vice Chairman Jeffrey Sulaiman emphasized that the memorandum creates a historical foundation for expanding pilgrimage tourism between the two countries and serves to systematically promote Uzbekistan's potential in the Malaysian market. He mentioned that the first international 'Umra+ and pilgrimage tourism' exhibition will be organized in Kuala Lumpur from June 21-23, 2026.
Abdul Rahim bin Abdullah, head of a Malaysian tour company that sends Hajj and Umra pilgrims, noted that his company sent several groups to Uzbekistan in 2025, highlighting the high interest of Malaysians in the country's historical and cultural heritage, sacred sites, and ancient cities. He also positively assessed the infrastructure and amenities created for pilgrims.
The eight direct flights per week between the two countries further facilitate connections and stimulate the growth of pilgrimage tourism. The signed memorandum and joint initiatives lay the groundwork for actively promoting Uzbekistan as an international pilgrimage tourism center and strengthening tourism cooperation with Malaysia.
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