Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan discuss joint Central Asia tourism routes and promotion

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have held talks on broadening bilateral tourism ties, creating cross-border routes and jointly marketing Central Asia as one tourism destination in international markets.

A delegation from Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee took part in a series of meetings in Dushanbe with representatives of CIS countries and officials engaged in international tourism projects. The talks addressed regional tourism cooperation, joint promotional efforts and initiatives planned under the CIS framework.

Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee Sanzhar Tozhiev met with Nurbol Baizhanov, Chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee under Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The two sides discussed boosting tourist flows between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan and advancing interregional and cross-border tourism. They also looked at ways to jointly present Central Asia as a single destination in third-country markets.

Possible joint initiatives include tourism presentations, forums and familiarization trips designed to showcase tourism products and destinations to industry representatives. The sides also considered creating weekend tourism packages connecting several regions in both countries. The proposed routes would link Kazakhstan’s Turkistan, Kyzylorda and Mangystau regions with regions of Uzbekistan.

At the meeting, the Kazakh side was invited to take part with a national stand at the 31st Tashkent International Tourism Fair, Tourism on the Silk Road. The fair is set to be held in Tashkent on November 25–27. The Uzbek delegation also met Yulia Zaikova, head of the Sodruzhestvo (Commonwealth) Travel Hub international tourism program and a representative of the Secretariat of the Council of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly.

The discussions centered on cooperation with the Sodruzhestvo Travel Hub during Uzbekistan’s chairmanship of the CIS Tourism Council. Among the proposals was the regular presentation of Uzbekistan’s tourism potential and sector projects through the platform during 2027.

After the meetings, the parties agreed to keep working on expanding tourism exchanges, strengthening business ties and carrying out joint initiatives.