Uzbekistan and Korea to implement AI for tourist flows in Khiva

Uzbekistan and South Korea are developing a joint project to implement artificial intelligence to manage tourist flows at the Ichan-Kala State Museum-Reserve in Khiva. This project was discussed at a meeting between Sukhrobjon Bobokalonov, Deputy Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, and Min Ji-yeon, Director of the Department of International Cooperation at the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

This project is part of KOPIST, an international cooperation program in sustainable tourism initiated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of the Republic of Korea and implemented by KTO. Under this program, promising projects are being developed and prepared for funding in collaboration with partner countries under the official development program of the South Korean government, ODA.

Uzbekistan presented the project, "Managing Tourist Flows in Ichan-Kala Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies," at a high-level forum on tourism policy held in Korea in May 2026. In June, this project won first place in a competition involving representatives from 10 countries. A Global Intensive Consulting program will be organized for Uzbekistan.

The project's main goal is to create a real-time monitoring and management system for tourist flows in Ichan-Kala. It also plans to digitalize the tourism infrastructure and improve the skills of local specialists.

The initiative includes installing sensors and implementing a data analysis system using artificial intelligence. Furthermore, intelligent navigation signs will be installed that will not have a physical impact on historical monuments.

The project also envisions the creation of additional tourist routes bypassing the main street of Ichan-Kala. Special training programs will be organized for artisans and staff of the museum-reserve.

The need to implement a tourist management system is driven, in particular, by the expected increase in the number of visitors to Khiva. Project documents note that after the expansion of Urgench International Airport and the improvement of rail links, tourist flow to the city could increase significantly.

The project is expected to increase the number of tourists while preserving the historical and cultural heritage of Ichan-Kala. Furthermore, the initiative aims to increase the length of tourists' stays in Khiva and to distribute the economic benefits of tourism more widely among the local population.