Uzbekistan hosted its first international ecotourism summit, with representatives from over 20 countries arriving in Tashkent.

Uzbekistan hosted an international summit dedicated to ecotourism and sustainable tourism for the first time. Approximately 100 foreign tour operators, travel company representatives, and industry experts from more than 20 countries gathered in Tashkent.

The summit, organized by the Uzbekistan Tourism Committee, the International Ecotourism Association, and TGS Travel, took place on August 26. Previously, this event was held in Turkey, Egypt, Vietnam, and Tanzania.

Foreign guests were introduced to Uzbekistan's tourism opportunities, the potential for ecotourism development, and the business environment in this sector. New projects and partnership opportunities between foreign and local tourism companies were discussed during the summit.

A significant portion of the business program was devoted to B2B negotiations. Representatives of the Uzbek tourism sector met with companies from Canada, the UK, and other European countries, discussing the organization of new tours to Uzbekistan and the implementation of joint projects.

Various support measures are in place in the country to stimulate such projects. Specifically, $50 million has been allocated for the construction, renovation, and equipping of hotels, and entrepreneurs are being provided loans at 16% per annum for up to 10 years. Subsidies for the construction of three-, four-, and five-star hotels have been extended for another two years, and tenfold reduced land and property tax rates for hotels will be in effect until 2030.

According to data presented at the summit, over 8 million foreign tourists have visited Uzbekistan since the beginning of 2026. The average length of their stay has increased to eight days. Following the event, foreign participants will travel to the Tashkent, Samarkand, and Bukhara regions to explore local tourism sites and projects.

It was previously reported that Uzbekistan has taken a leading position in the region in terms of tourism development. These data were presented in a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which also recognized Central Asia as the fastest-growing tourist destination in the world.