Uzbekistan leads Central Asia's tourism boom with $44.8 billion in exports
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Uzbekistan is at the forefront of Central Asia's tourism surge, generating $44.8 billion in exports.
An article in China's Outlook New Era Magazine, drawing on the World Travel & Tourism Council's (WTTC) 2026 Economic Impact Research report, highlights the expansion of tourism in Central Asia.
The report indicates that Central Asia was among the global tourism industry's fastest-growing regions in 2025. The WTTC's analysis of world tourism across 13 major regions placed Central Asia first in several critical metrics.
Specifically, the travel and tourism sector's contribution to the region's GDP increased by 17.7 percent in 2025, while its direct economic contribution saw a 19.6 percent rise. These figures significantly surpassed the growth rates observed in Northeast Asia (8.7 percent) and Southeast Asia (7.6 percent).
In 2025, Central Asia's tourism sector contributed $220.1 billion to the economy, representing 4.3 percent of the region's GDP. Employment within the sector grew by 9.5 percent, and tourism investment climbed by 12.4 percent.
The article identified Uzbekistan as Central Asia's most developed tourist destination, noting that WTTC data shows the country leading the region in key benchmark indicators.
According to the report, Uzbekistan's export revenue from tourism services reached $44.8 billion in 2025, accounting for nearly half of Central Asia's total tourism export earnings.
Uzbekistan was also recognized as the most favored destination for travelers from within the region, attracting 25 percent of outbound trips by Central Asian residents. Kazakhstan followed with 23 percent, and Kyrgyzstan with 18 percent.
Furthermore, Uzbekistan welcomed 11.7 million foreign tourists in 2025, marking a 46.8 percent increase from 2024.
The WTTC attributed the region's rapid tourism growth to several key elements: streamlined border procedures, enhanced transport and logistics infrastructure, the creation of new tourist routes, and a unified promotional effort for Central Asia as a travel destination.
The research findings underscore Uzbekistan's growing prominence as a leading tourism center in Central Asia.
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